boy's name
Jackson
JAK-sun
- Origin English
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 2
- Letters 7
- Popularity Top 100 (US)
- Births on record 335,027
the United States
#36
2025 births
Jackson is a boy's name of English origin meaning "son of Jack." Since Jack developed as a medieval pet form of John, the name's deeper meaning runs back to the Hebrew Yochanan, "Yahweh is gracious."
- Jackson is a name of English origin.
- Peaked in 2013, when 12,626 babies were given the name.
- Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 503 babies in the United States is given this name.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Jackson over time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 371 |
| 1890s | 311 |
| 1900s | 404 |
| 1910s | 1,453 |
| 1920s | 2,334 |
| 1930s | 1,713 |
| 1940s | 1,791 |
| 1950s | 1,347 |
| 1960s | 992 |
| 1970s | 1,596 |
| 1980s | 3,242 |
| 1990s | 23,680 |
| 2000s | 94,780 |
| 2010s | 116,510 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 47,474 |
What Jackson means
Jackson means son of Jack. Because Jack itself began as a familiar form of John, the inherited meaning is "Yahweh is gracious" — arrived at through two steps rather than directly.
Where Jackson comes from
Jackson is a patronymic English surname, formed from Jack plus -son. Jack developed from John through the medieval diminutive Jankin, so Jackson is effectively a grandchild of the Hebrew Yochanan. Surnames of this type became fixed in England during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, when Jack was among the most common male names in the country — which is why Jackson, Jackman, and Jacks are all well attested. In the United States the name carries additional associations through Andrew Jackson, the seventh president, and through the many places named after him. Its move from surname to given name follows the same modern pattern as Mason, Harper, and Hudson.
How popular is Jackson?
In 2025, Jackson was given to 6,597 babies in the United States, ranking #36 that year. It is one of the most popular names in the United States.
Where Jackson is used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names that peaked alongside Jackson
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like Jackson also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Jackson over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
4 nicknames for Jackson
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Jackson in other languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling names for Jackson
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with Jackson — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about Jackson
What does the name Jackson mean?
Jackson means "son of Jack," and since Jack came from John, ultimately "Yahweh is gracious."
Is Jackson related to John?
Yes, indirectly — Jack developed as a pet form of John, and Jackson means son of Jack.
What is the difference between Jackson and Jaxon?
Jaxon is a modern respelling; Jackson is the original surname form.
How popular is the name Jackson?
In 2025, Jackson was given to 6,597 babies in the United States, ranking #36 that year. It is one of the most popular names in the United States.
Is Jackson a girl's or a boy's name?
Jackson is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Jackson?
Jackson has 2 syllables.
When was Jackson most popular?
Jackson peaked in 2013, when 12,626 babies were given the name. Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
What are the nicknames for Jackson?
Jackson is usually shortened to Jack, Jax, Jackie and Jacky.
Is Jackson a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Jackson currently ranks #25 in the United States. Its usage has held steady over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.