Jack is a given name of English origin. In modern usage, Jack is often a given name on its own, although it can be used as a diminutive of other given names. Since the late 20th century, Jack has become one of the most common names for boys in many English-speaking countries. Jack is also used to a much lesser extent as a female name, often as a shortened version of Jacqueline.
The word "jack" is also commonly used in other contexts in English for many occupations, objects and actions, linked to the use of the word as a metaphor for a common man.
Origin Jack is derived from the Middle English diminutive Jackin, an alteration of Jankin. Jankin is a diminutive of Jan which is derived from the Old French name Jehan, a form of John. Alternatively, it may be derived from an anglicisation of Jacques, the French form of the name James or Jacob.
Both the name and the word "jack" were long used as a term to refer to any man (including boys), especially of the common classes.
Frequency In several English-speaking countries, Jack has become used as a formal given name and is now more popular than John, James, or Jacob. During the first decade of the 21st century, Jack was the most common given name for boys in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia, and grew in popularity in the United States and Canada.
Jack appeared on the lists of the most frequently used male-baby names in the UK for 2003–2007.
From 2000 to 2024, Jack was either the number 1 or 2 most popular name for baby boys in Ireland.
In 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2013, Jack was the most common name given to boys in Australia.
The frequency of Jack as a baby name in the US has steadily increased from the 160–170 rank prior to 1991 to a rank of 11 in 2021.
In 2022, it was the tenth most common name given to boys in Canada.
Other uses in English The name Jack is unusual in the English language for its frequent use as a noun or verb for many common objects and actions, and in many compound words and phrases.
Examples include implements, such as a car jack, knucklebones (the game jacks), or the jack in bowls.
The word is also used in other words and phrases such as: apple jack, hijack, jack of clubs (playing card), jack straw (scarecrow), jack tar (sailor), jack-in-the-box, jack-of-all-trades, Jack the lad, jack o'lantern, jackdaw, jackhammer, jackknife, jackpot, lumberjack, Union Jack, etc.
The history of the word is linked to the name being used as a by-name for a man.
People with the given name Jack I. Abecassis, American scholar Jack Abel (1927–1996), American comic book artist Jack Abeillé (1873–1939), French painter and illustrator Jack Abramoff (born 1959), American lobbyist, businessman, movie producer, and writer, convicted of corruption Jack Acland (1904–1981), New Zealand politician Jack Adams (disambiguation), multiple people Jack Adler (1917–2011), American comics artist Jack Afamasaga (born 1984), Samoan professional rugby league footballer Jack Agazarian (1915–1945), British spy Jack Aikins (born 2002), American swimmer Jack Aitken (born 1995), British-Korean racing driver Jack Agüeros (1934–2014), author, playwright, poet and translator Jack Aker (born 1940), American Major League Baseball pitcher Jack Albertson (1907–1981), American actor Jack Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people Jack Angel (1930–2021), American actor Jack Antonoff (born 1984), American musician and producer Jack Arute (born 1950), American sportscaster Jack Asher (1916–1991), English cinematographer Jack Asselstine (1895–1966), Canadian ice hockey player Jack Avery (murder victim) (1911–1940), British War Reserve Constable Jack Avery (singer) (born 1999), American singer in the boy band Why Don't We Jack Babuscio (1937–1990), American journalist Jack Baigrie (1929–2008), Canadian television personality Jack Banta (disambiguation), multiple people Jack Barakat (born 1988), lead guitarist for punk rock band All Time Low Jack Bartley (1909–1929), English footballer Jack Baker (born 1942), one half of the first same-sex couple to be married legally with a license that was never revoked Jack Bech (born 2002), American football player Jack Benny (1894–1974), American comedian, vaudevillian, actor, and violinist Jack Black (born 1969), American actor Jack Blott (1902–1964), All-American football center and place kicker Jack Bouwmeester (born 1999), Australian gridiron football player Jack Brodrick (1913–1965), rugby league player Jack Brabham (1926–2014), Australian racing driver Jack Brickhouse (1916–1998), American sportscaster Jack Brisco (1941–2010), American professional wrestler Jack Brittain, American professor Jack Browning (born 2001), American football player Jack Bruce (1943–2014), Scottish musician, composer, and vocalist Jack Buck (1924–2002), American sportscaster Jack Burtch (1926–2015), American lawyer Jack Cade ( 1420–1450), the leader of a popular revolt against the government of England in 1450 Jack Campbell (born 1992), American ice hockey goaltender Jack W. Carter (1938–2019), American politician Jack Catley (born 1945), English footballer Jack Bridger Chalker (1918–2014), British artist and teacher Jack L. Chalker (1944–2005), American science fiction author Jack Charlton (1935–2020), English footballer and manager Jack Chesbro (1874–1931), American Major League Baseball pitcher Jack T. Chick (1924–2016), American publisher, writer, and comic book artist of evangelical fundamentalist Christian tracts and comic books Jack Ciattarelli (born 1961), American politician and businessman Jack Cichy (born 1996), American football player Jack Cirilo (born 1999), Peruvian footballer Jack Clarke (1933–2001), Australian rules footballer and coach in the VFL Jack Clement (1931–2013), American singer-songwriter, record producer Jack Clifford (disambiguation), several people Jack Cock (1893–1966), English footballer Jack Colman (1887–1965), New Zealand rugby union player Jack E. Conger (1921–2006), American Marine flying ace during World War II Jack Kent Cooke (1912–1997), Canadian entrepreneur Jack Coombs (1882–1957), Major League Baseball pitcher Jack Cork (born 1989), English footballer Jack Crawford (disambiguation), multiple people Jack Crisp (born 1993), Australian rules footballer Jack Cronin (1874–1929), American Major League Baseball pitcher Jack Cronin (American football) (1903–1993), American football player Jack Crook (born 1993), English basketball player Jack Cross (1887–1948), Canadian ice hockey player Jack Cushing (born 1996), American baseball player Jack Cust (born 1979), American baseball player Jack Daly (politician) (1915–1988), Irish politician Jack Daniels (disambiguation), multiple people Jack Dann (born 1945), American writer Jack Carl Dean, better known by alias JaackMaate, British YouTuber Jack Dee (born 1961), English stand-up comedian, actor, and writer Jack DeJohnette (1942–2025), American jazz drummer, pianist, and composer Jack DeLeon (1924–2006), American actor Jack Del Rio (born 1963), American football coach Jack Della Maddalena (born 1996), Australian MMA fighter Jack Dempsey (disambiguation), multiple people Jack Dickin (1899–1966), British Olympic swimmer Jack Diment (died 1978), Scottish footballer Jack Doan (born 1972) American professional wrestling referee Jack Dootson (1914–1985), American politician Jack Dorsey (born 1976), American technology entrepreneur, co-founder and CEO of Twitter Jack Douglass (born 1988), American YouTube comedian of "jacksfilms" fame Jack Dowsey (1905–1942), English footballer Jack Driscoll (American football) (born 1997), American football player Jack Dromey (1948–2022), British Labour Party politician and trade unionist Jack Dugger (1923–1988), American football player Jack Dugnolle (1914–1977), English footballer Jack Duncliffe (born 1947), English footballer Jack Easterby (born 1982 or 1983), American football executive Jack Dyer (1913–2003), Australian rules footballer and coach, broadcaster and journalist Jack Eichel (born 1996), American National Hockey League player Jack Eisner (born 1947), Israeli basketball player Jack Elam (1920–2003), American actor Jack Elder (politician) (born 1949), New Zealand politician Jack Ellena (1931–2012), American football player Jack Elway (1931–2001), American football player and head coach Jack Ely (1943–2015), American guitarist and singer Jack Endino (born 1964), producer and musician based in Seattle Jack Evans (disambiguation), multiple people Jack Faber (1903–1994), American microbiologist and college football and lacrosse coach Jack Falahee (born 1989), American actor Jack Fellure (1931–2022), American perennial political candidate and engineer Jack Fettes (born 2005), British basketball player Jack Fingleton (1908–1981), Australian cricketer Jack Finney (1911–1995), American author Jack Flagerman (1922–2005), American football player Jack Flaherty (disambiguation), multiple people Jack Flatley (born 1994), English professional boxer Jack Fleck (1921–2014), American professional golfer Jack Foley (disambiguation), multiple people Jack Fortner, Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives Jack Fox (disambiguation), multiple people Jack Fritz (disambiguation), multiple people Jack Fultz (born 1948), American long-distance runner Jack Gamble, British footballer Joaquín "Jack" García (born 1952), Cuban-American FBI agent Jack Garfinkel (1918–2013), American basketball player Jack Givens (born 1956), American collegiate and professional basketball player Jack Glasscock (1857–1947), American Major League Baseball player Jack Gilinsky (born 1996), member of the American pop-rap duo Jack & Jack Jack Gingrass (1921–2010), American politician Jack Gold (1930–2015), British film and television director Jack Goody (1919–2015), British social anthropologist Jack Gotta (1929–2013), American-born Canadian football player, coach, and general manager Jack Gore (actor) (born 2005), American actor Jack Graf (1919–2009), American football and basketball player Jack Graney (1886–1978), Canadian Major League Baseball player Jack Grant (disambiguation), multiple people Jack Dylan Grazer (born 2003), American actor Jack Grealish (born 1995), English footballer Jack Greenwell (1884–1942), English footballer and manager Jack Griffo (born 1996), American actor Jack Haden (1914–1996), American football player Jack Hale (disambiguation), multiple people Jack Haley (disambiguation), multiple people Jack Halliday (American football) (1928–2000), American football player Jack Ham (born 1948), American football linebacker Jack Hand (1912–1995), American sports reporter Jack Hanna (born 1947), American zookeeper Jack Hannah (1913–1994), American animator, writer, and director of animated shorts Jack Harkness (born 2004), Scottish footballer Jack Harper (disambiguation), multiple people Jack Heflin (born 1998), American football player Jack Heinemann, New Zealand academic Jack Hennig (born 1946), Canadian singer-songwriter Jack Herer (1939–2010), American cannabis activist Jack Heyes (1902–?), English footballer Jack Hill (disambiguation), multiple people Jack Hinchy (born 2003), English footballer Jack Hinshelwood (born 2005), English footballer Jack Hirsch (born 1941 or 1942), American basketball player and coach Jack Hirsh (born 1935), Canadian clinician and scientist Jack Hobbs (1882–1963), English cricketer Jack Hoffman (American football) (1930–2001), American football player Jack Hollington (born 2001), British actor Jack Holt (disambiguation), multiple people Jack Hopkins, English footballer Jack Hughes (disambiguation), multiple people Jack Hurley (1897–1972), American boxing promoter Jack Hurley (baseball) (born 2002), American baseball player Jack Huston (born 1982), English actor Jack Hyles (1926–2001), figure in the American Independent Baptist movement Jack Iddon (1902–1946), English cricketer Jack Ikin (1918–1984), English cricketer Jack Ingram (disambiguation), multiple people