Jackson first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Jackson has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Jackson

A masculine name of English origin meaning "son of Jack".

Popularity of Jackson by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Jackson is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Jackson being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 7,284 male babies and 19 female babies born with the name Jackson.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 19 baby girls were named Jackson in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 7,284 19
2022 8,070 22
2021 9,251 18
2020 9,115 19
2019 10,155 26
2018 10,412 29
2017 10,452 27
2016 11,305 26
2015 12,280 24
2014 12,234 25
2013 12,609 16
2012 12,492 22
2011 12,403 28
2010 11,821 23
2009 12,122 21
2008 11,640 28
2007 11,664 33
2006 10,895 30
2005 9,579 28
2004 8,977 65
2003 8,713 26
2002 8,153 26
2001 6,836 20
2000 5,903 15
1999 4,993 12
1998 3,862 16
1997 3,126 8
1996 2,644 13
1995 2,162 9
1994 1,934 5
1993 1,539 9
1992 1,363 7
1991 1,177 0
1990 792 6
1989 495 7
1988 389 5
1987 344 0
1986 299 6
1985 292 0
1984 269 0
1983 274 0
1982 275 0
1981 301 0
1980 283 0
1979 261 5
1978 210 0
1977 204 0
1976 179 0
1975 143 0
1974 131 0

The history of the first name Jackson

The given name Jackson originated from the English surname Jackson, which itself derives from the personal name Jack, a diminutive form of the name John. The name John comes from the Hebrew name Yohanan, meaning "Yahweh is gracious" or "God is gracious."

Jackson as a first name emerged in the 17th century, particularly in England and Scotland. It was initially used as a patronymic, meaning "son of Jack," with the suffix "-son" added to the personal name Jack. The name gained popularity as a first name in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

While there are no known direct references to the name Jackson in ancient texts or religious scriptures, the name John, from which Jackson is derived, has biblical roots and is mentioned in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. Additionally, the name Jack, which is the root of Jackson, was commonly used in medieval literature and folklore.

One of the earliest recorded uses of Jackson as a first name dates back to the late 16th century. Andrew Jackson (1767-1845), the 7th President of the United States, is perhaps the most famous historical figure to bear the name. Other notable individuals named Jackson throughout history include:

  1. Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (1824-1863), a Confederate general during the American Civil War.
  2. Jackson Pollock (1912-1956), an influential American painter and a major figure in the abstract expressionist movement.
  3. Jackson Browne (born 1948), an American singer-songwriter known for his contributions to the folk and rock genres.
  4. Jackson C. Frank (1937-1999), an American folk singer-songwriter and musician.
  5. Jackson Mthembu (1958-2021), a South African politician who served as Minister in the Presidency of South Africa.

The name Jackson has been widely adopted across various cultures and regions, transcending its English origins. It continues to be a popular choice for parents, reflecting its historical significance and versatility.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Jackson was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Jackson, please contact us.

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Jackson first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/jackson-meaning-and-history/.

"Jackson first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/jackson-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Jackson first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/jackson-meaning-and-history/.

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