About the name Jack
The origin of Jack is debated, and we couldn't confirm its meaning from a sourced etymology. A commonly cited theory links it to English roots, with the meaning “God is gracious (from John)”. Treat that as a theory, not a settled fact.
Why we say this: we only state a meaning as fact when a sourced etymology (Wiktionary, with its references) supports it. For Jack we didn't find one we were confident in, so we show the popular explanation as a theory.
It has a classic, short & sweet feel. In 2025, Jack ranked #15 for boys in the US, with 8,748 babies given the name. Its peak year since 1940 was 2005. Since 2000, 100% of US babies named Jack were boys.
- US rank 2025
- #15
- In 2015
- #40
- Babies in 2025
- 8,748
Popularity of Jack, 1940–2025
Latest SSA data: 2025.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby names (public domain; names given to at least 5 babies of one sex per year).
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Jack
Your last name
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7 LB 4 OZ · 20 IN
The Baby Kit
See Jack on a birth announcement
Birth announcements, shower invitations, nursery wall art and milestone cards, all personalized with Jack. Type your details once and print at home or at any print shop.
Nicknames for Jack
Names similar to Jack
Name meanings marked or linked “Wiktionary” are adapted from Wiktionary by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; each name page links its source entry.