Jocari
Of Latin origin meaning "to be playful or joyful".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Jocari. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Jocari today is around 5 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Jocari births was 2021 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Jocari. 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 Jocari. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2021
5 babies that year
Average age
5
years old
2021 SSA rank
#13,010
Tracked since 2021
Popularity
Jocari: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Jocari 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 Jocari during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Jocari
The name Jocari is an intriguing one with a rich history that spans across multiple cultures and time periods. Its origins can be traced back to the ancient Etruscan civilization, which flourished in what is now modern-day Italy between the 8th and 3rd centuries BC. The Etruscans were known for their advanced society and their influence on the development of the Roman Empire.
In the Etruscan language, the name Jocari is believed to have derived from the word "jocarus," which translates to "joyful" or "merry." This suggests that the name was initially bestowed upon individuals with a cheerful and lively disposition, perhaps reflecting the Etruscan appreciation for the finer things in life.
As the Roman Empire expanded and absorbed the Etruscan culture, the name Jocari found its way into the Latin language. In fact, one of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the writings of the Roman historian Livy, who mentioned a man named Jocari Flavius in his account of the Punic Wars (264-146 BC).
During the Middle Ages, the name Jocari gained popularity among the nobility and aristocracy across Europe. One notable figure bearing this name was Jocari de Montfort, a French knight who fought alongside Richard the Lionheart during the Third Crusade in the late 12th century.
In the Renaissance period, the name Jocari became associated with the arts and literature. A prominent figure was the Italian poet and playwright Jocari Boccaccio (1313-1375), best known for his masterpiece "The Decameron," a collection of novellas that celebrated the joys of life and love.
Moving into the 18th century, we find Jocari Rousseau (1712-1778), a Swiss philosopher and writer who had a profound impact on the Enlightenment era with his works on political theory, education, and the social contract.
In more recent times, the name Jocari has been carried on by notable individuals such as Jocari Pendergrass (1950-2010), an American singer, songwriter, and record producer who was a pioneer of the Philadelphia soul sound.
While the name Jocari may not be as common today as it once was, its rich history and association with joy, artistry, and philosophical thought make it a unique and captivating choice for those seeking a name with depth and cultural significance.
People
Jocari + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Jocari 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
Jocari: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Jocari?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Jocari 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Jocari a common name?
We classify Jocari as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Jocari most popular?
The single biggest year for Jocari was 2021, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Jocari is about 5 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 Jocari in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Jocari a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Jocari 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 Jocari still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Jocari 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 Jocari 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 have the name Jocari?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.