| Jack | Jackson | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | God is gracious | Son of Jack |
| Origin | English | English |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | JAK | JAK-sun |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 1927 (12,802) | 2013 (12,610) |
| In 2025 | 8,748 | 6,582 |
| Trend | Steady | Declining |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Jack | Jackson |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 53,384 | 47,360 |
| 2010s | 85,695 | 116,264 |
| 2000s | 95,512 | 94,488 |
| 1990s | 37,501 | 23,595 |
| 1980s | 15,944 | 3,224 |
| 1970s | 18,562 | 1,580 |
| 1960s | 35,593 | 992 |
| 1950s | 62,387 | 1,347 |
| 1940s | 73,919 | 1,791 |
| 1930s | 96,396 | 1,713 |
| 1920s | 115,983 | 2,327 |
| 1910s | 49,526 | 1,453 |
| 1900s | 9,222 | 404 |
| 1890s | 4,635 | 311 |
| 1880s | 2,684 | 371 |
Jack began as a medieval pet form of John and grew so common it became a word for “man” (as in “every man Jack”). Now a name in its own right, it is one of the most popular boys’ names in Britain and Ireland.
Jackson is an English surname meaning “son of Jack (John).” Associated with figures such as President Andrew Jackson, it has surged as a first name in recent decades.
Jack is more popular than Jackson today: about 8,748 US babies were given the name Jack in 2025, compared with 6,582 named Jackson.
Jack means God is gracious (English origin), while Jackson means Son of Jack (English origin).
In US records, Jack first appears in 1880 and Jackson in 1880, so Jack has the longer recorded history.