| Jackson | Jack | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Son of Jack | God is gracious |
| Origin | English | English |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | JAK-sun | JAK |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2013 (12,610) | 1927 (12,802) |
| In 2025 | 6,582 | 8,748 |
| Trend | Declining | Steady |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Jackson | Jack |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 47,360 | 53,384 |
| 2010s | 116,264 | 85,695 |
| 2000s | 94,488 | 95,512 |
| 1990s | 23,595 | 37,501 |
| 1980s | 3,224 | 15,944 |
| 1970s | 1,580 | 18,562 |
| 1960s | 992 | 35,593 |
| 1950s | 1,347 | 62,387 |
| 1940s | 1,791 | 73,919 |
| 1930s | 1,713 | 96,396 |
| 1920s | 2,327 | 115,983 |
| 1910s | 1,453 | 49,526 |
| 1900s | 404 | 9,222 |
| 1890s | 311 | 4,635 |
| 1880s | 371 | 2,684 |
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 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.
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.
Jackson means Son of Jack (English origin), while Jack means God is gracious (English origin).
In US records, Jackson first appears in 1880 and Jack in 1880, so Jackson has the longer recorded history.