Jasper first name popularity, history and meaning

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

Meaning of Jasper

An Old French name derived from the gemstone of greenish quartz.

Popularity of Jasper by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Jasper is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 97% of people named Jasper being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 2,933 male babies and 70 female babies born with the name Jasper.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 70 baby girls were named Jasper in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 2,933 70
2022 2,898 74
2021 2,867 83
2020 2,636 65
2019 2,786 51
2018 2,500 51
2017 2,113 44
2016 1,911 41
2015 1,866 42
2014 1,753 37
2013 1,465 42
2012 1,356 25
2011 1,253 28
2010 1,182 12
2009 945 31
2008 626 19
2007 585 25
2006 442 18
2005 451 21
2004 392 17
2003 469 18
2002 478 21
2001 390 25
2000 334 24
1999 281 24
1998 301 13
1997 274 21
1996 252 21
1995 238 23
1994 207 18
1993 225 13
1992 243 10
1991 251 12
1990 269 13
1989 231 16
1988 247 11
1987 204 6
1986 171 9
1985 177 8
1984 144 0
1983 174 7
1982 154 5
1981 194 5
1980 163 5
1979 153 5
1978 144 0
1977 134 0
1976 118 0
1975 119 0
1974 101 0

The history of the first name Jasper

The name Jasper has its origins in the Persian language and can be traced back to the ancient Achaemenid Empire of Persia, which ruled from 550 BC to 330 BC. The name is derived from the Persian word "gasht" or "gisht", meaning "treasurer" or "keeper of riches".

In ancient times, the name Jasper was associated with the precious gemstone of the same name, which was highly valued for its beauty and believed to possess protective powers. The word "jasper" ultimately comes from the French "jaspre" and the Old French phrase "jaspe pierre" meaning "jasper stone".

One of the earliest known references to the name Jasper can be found in the Bible's Book of Revelation, where it is mentioned as one of the twelve precious stones adorning the foundations of the New Jerusalem. This association with the gemstone and its symbolic significance in religious texts likely contributed to the name's popularity in Europe during the Middle Ages.

The first recorded use of the name Jasper as a personal name dates back to the 12th century, when it appeared in various forms such as "Jasper", "Gaspard", and "Caspar" across different regions of Europe. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Jasper Gennath, a German philosopher and theologian who lived in the 14th century.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Jasper. These include:

  1. Jasper Tudor (c. 1439 - c. 1495), the uncle of King Henry VII of England and a prominent figure in the Wars of the Roses.
  2. Jasper Heywood (c. 1535 - 1598), an English translator and playwright during the Elizabethan era.
  3. Jasper Pääkkönen (born 1980), a Finnish actor known for his roles in films such as "BlacKkKlansman" and "Vikings".
  4. Jasper Fforde (born 1961), a British novelist best known for his "Thursday Next" series of literary detective novels.
  5. Jasper Johns (born 1930), an American painter and artist celebrated for his works depicting flags, targets, and other everyday objects.

The name Jasper has maintained its popularity throughout the centuries, and its association with the gemstone, as well as its historical and literary references, have contributed to its enduring appeal.

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 Jasper was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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

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

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

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