Jonquin
Possibly derived from Joaquín, a form of the Hebrew masculine name Yohokhanan meaning "Yahweh is gracious".
Name Census estimates that about 7 living Americans carry the first name Jonquin. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Jonquin today is around 41 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Jonquin births was 1983 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Jonquin. 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 Jonquin. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
7
~ 1 in 48,964,905 Americans
Peak year
1983
7 babies that year
Average age
41
years old
1983 SSA rank
#5,180
Tracked since 1983
Popularity
Jonquin: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Jonquin 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 Jonquin during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Jonquin
The name Jonquin has its origins in the French language and culture, dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the French word "jonquille," which means "jonquil" or "daffodil." The name was likely inspired by the bright yellow color of the jonquil flower, symbolizing joy and renewal.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jonquin can be found in the 17th century French novel "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, where a character named Jonquin is mentioned. This literary reference suggests that the name was in use among the French aristocracy during that time.
In the 18th century, a notable figure named Jonquin Durand (1715-1783) was a renowned French painter and engraver known for his landscapes and portraits. His works are still celebrated in art circles today, further cementing the name's place in French cultural history.
Moving into the 19th century, Jonquin Despréaux (1810-1879) was a French architect who designed several notable buildings in Paris, including the Palais de la Bourse (Stock Exchange) and the Église Saint-Augustin. His architectural legacy has left a lasting impact on the city's skyline.
In the world of literature, Jonquin Alphonse Karr (1808-1890) was a French novelist and satirist known for his witty and biting social commentary. His works, such as "Les Guêpes" (The Wasps), were widely read and influential during his time.
Lastly, in the 20th century, Jonquin Mertens (1919-2003) was a Belgian composer and conductor who made significant contributions to the world of classical music. His compositions, including symphonies and concertos, were performed by renowned orchestras across Europe.
While the name Jonquin may not be as common today as it once was, its rich history and cultural significance in France and beyond have left an indelible mark on the annals of art, literature, architecture, and music.
People
Jonquin + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Jonquin 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
Jonquin: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Jonquin?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 7 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Jonquin 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 48,964,905 US residents.
Is Jonquin a common name?
We classify Jonquin as "Very Rare". It ranks above 23.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 7 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Jonquin most popular?
The single biggest year for Jonquin was 1983, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Jonquin is about 41 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 Jonquin in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Jonquin a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Jonquin 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 Jonquin still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Jonquin 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 Jonquin 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 share the name Jonquin?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.