Jl
Of uncertain origin, potentially derived from a Germanic element.
Name Census estimates that about 21 living Americans carry the first name Jl. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Jl today is around 42 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Jl births was 1989 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Jl. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Jl. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
21
~ 1 in 16,321,635 Americans
Peak year
1989
6 babies that year
Average age
42
years old
1994 SSA rank
#8,235
Tracked since 1919
Popularity
Jl: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Jl from the 1910s through to the 1990s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 11 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1980s peak, Jl remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Jl by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Jl during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Jl
The name Jl has its origins in the ancient Sumerian language, which was spoken in the region of Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) around 3500 BCE. It is believed to be derived from the Sumerian word "jl," which means "to shine" or "to illuminate." This name was likely given to individuals as a symbol of light, warmth, and radiance.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Jl can be found in the Sumerian cuneiform tablets, which date back to the 3rd millennium BCE. These tablets were used to record various aspects of daily life, including personal names and genealogies. However, it is important to note that the interpretation of these ancient texts can be challenging due to the complexity of the Sumerian language.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Jl. One of the most famous was Jl of Uruk, a Sumerian high priestess who lived around 2500 BCE. She was renowned for her wisdom and her contributions to the development of early writing systems.
Another significant figure was Jl the Scribe, who lived in ancient Egypt during the reign of Ramesses II (1279-1213 BCE). He was responsible for recording and preserving many important historical documents and literary works, including the famous "Book of the Dead."
In the realm of philosophy, Jl of Miletus (c. 550 BCE) was a prominent figure in ancient Greek thought. He is credited with being one of the first philosophers to explore the concept of a single, unifying principle underlying the natural world.
During the medieval period, Jl of Reims (c. 1020-1092) was a renowned French scholar and theologian. He played a significant role in the development of scholastic philosophy and was highly influential in the intellectual circles of his time.
Lastly, Jl al-Din Rumi (1207-1273) was a renowned Persian poet, scholar, and Sufi mystic. His poetic works, such as the "Masnavi," have had a profound impact on Persian literature and have been widely translated and studied across the world.
It is important to note that while the name Jl has a rich historical legacy, its usage and popularity have varied across different cultures and time periods. The examples provided here represent just a small glimpse into the diverse individuals who have borne this name throughout history.
People
Jl + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Jl as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with J
Other first names starting with J with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Jl: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Jl?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 21 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Jl going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 16,321,635 US residents.
Is Jl a common name?
We classify Jl as "Very Rare". It ranks above 40.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 32 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Jl most popular?
The single biggest year for Jl was 1989, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Jl is about 42 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Jl in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Jl a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Jl in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Jl still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Jl in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Jl can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are called Jl?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.