Jack: meaning and origin
Jack
“God is gracious; a pet form of John”
About the name Jack
Jack is a boy’s name from the English tradition. Its meaning is “god is gracious; a pet form of John”. Names from Old English and English words and surnames — like Harper, Hudson, Willow and Wyatt.
It’s a classic: a name that has been used for generations and still feels fresh.
More names with a similar meaning: names that mean gift of god.
Tips before you choose
- Say the full name out loud with your last name, and with any middle name.
- Check the initials — and what they spell.
- Think about nicknames kids might make from it.
- Write it down: is the spelling easy for teachers and friends?
More English names
- Archer 👦Bowman · English
- Arden 🧒Valley of the eagle · English
- Ash 🧒The ash tree · English
- Avery 🧒Ruler of the elves · English
- Blake 🧒Pale, or dark · English
- Brooks 👦Of the brook, small stream · English
- Carter 👦Cart driver · English
- Colton 👦Coal town · English
- Cooper 👦Barrel maker · English
- Easton 👦East-facing place · English
- Edward 👦Wealthy guardian · English
- Forest 👦Woods, woodland · English
Sibling name ideas (English, girls)
- Audrey 👧Noble strength · English
- Autumn 👧The fall season · English
- Brooklyn 👧Broken land, stream; the New York borough · English
- Daisy 👧Day’s eye; the daisy flower · English
- Dakota 👧Friend, ally; from the Dakota people and the US states · English
- Ellie 👧Light; a short form of Eleanor and Ellen · English
- Ember 👧A glowing piece of coal · English
- Evelyn 👧Wished-for child; from an old surname · English
More boy names starting with J
- Jabari 👦Brave, fearless (Swahili) · African
- Jackson 👦Son of Jack · English
- Jacob 👦Supplanter, held by the heel · Hebrew
- Jamal 👦Beauty (from Arabic); popular in African American families · African American
- James 👦Supplanter; the English form of Jacob · Hebrew
- Jameson 👦Son of James · English
- Jasper 👦Treasurer (via Persian); also the gemstone · Greek
- Jaylen 👦A modern American name; calm, or a blend of Jay and Len · African American
- Jelani 👦Mighty (Swahili) · African
- Jeremiah 👦God will raise up · Hebrew
Questions and answers
What does the name Jack mean?
Jack is a name of English origin. It means: god is gracious; a pet form of John.
Is Jack a boy or girl name?
Jack is usually given to boys.
How many syllables does Jack have?
Jack has 4 letters and about 1 syllable.
Is Jack a popular name?
Yes. Jack has been near the top of US baby-name lists in recent years. Names marked “popular now” have been near the top of US baby-name lists in recent years. This is an approximate guide, not an official ranking; see the Social Security Administration’s baby names site for official counts.