Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Jack
BoyEnglish, Hebrew· “Yahweh is gracious”
- Meaning
- Yahweh is gracious
- Origin
- English, Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- JAK
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #15
- US babies 2025
- 8,748
- Best rank
- #11 (2021)
- Peak year
- 1927
Meaning and origin of Jack
Jack is an English and Hebrew name that means “Yahweh is gracious”.
Jack began in medieval England as a pet form of John, through the intermediate form Jankin, so it shares John's Hebrew meaning, "Yahweh is gracious". It became so common that "jack" turned into a general word for a man or a handy device, as in jack-of-all-trades and car jack. Folk tales such as Jack and the Beanstalk and Jack the Giant Killer made it the classic name of the resourceful everyday hero. As a given name in its own right, Jack has been a longtime favorite in Britain, Ireland and Australia and a strong choice in America. Short, brisk and cheerful, it rarely needs a nickname.
Other spellings with the same sound: Jac.
Famous parents who chose Jack: Hailey Bieber and Justin Bieber (2024). More celebrity baby names
Popularity over time
Jack has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #11 in 2021, and the most babies received it in 1927, when 12,802 were named Jack. In 2025, 8,748 babies were named Jack, and it ranked #15 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #20 in 1920, #48 in 1950, #158 in 1980, #46 in 2000, #45 in 2010, and #15 in 2025. Of the 756,943 US boys named Jack since records began, 15% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1930s come next, with 96,396 babies. Since 2010, 139,079 more have been named Jack.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Eugene, Herbert, Alfred, Norman, and Marvin.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Jack ranked highest in Utah, New Hampshire, and Michigan.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | #4 | 209 |
| New Hampshire | #4 | 65 |
| Michigan | #6 | 337 |
| Massachusetts | #6 | 319 |
| Vermont | #6 | 24 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Jack is usually pronounced JAK, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with J and ends in “-ck”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Jac.
Middle names for Jack
A few middle names that flow with Jack: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Jack
Similar names
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Lists that include Jack
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Jack mean?
Jack is an English and Hebrew name that means “Yahweh is gracious”.
What is the origin of the name Jack?
Jack has English and Hebrew roots. Jack began in medieval England as a pet form of John, through the intermediate form Jankin, so it shares John's Hebrew meaning, "Yahweh is gracious".
Is Jack a popular name?
Yes. Jack ranked #15 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Jack a boy or girl name?
Jack is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Jack?
Jack is usually pronounced JAK. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings