Declining since 2012, #36 for boys today.
Popularity of Jackson since 1880
Babies named Jackson per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 371 |
| 1890s | 311 |
| 1900s | 404 |
| 1910s | 1,453 |
| 1920s | 2,327 |
| 1930s | 1,713 |
| 1940s | 1,791 |
| 1950s | 1,347 |
| 1960s | 992 |
| 1970s | 1,580 |
| 1980s | 3,224 |
| 1990s | 23,595 |
| 2000s | 94,488 |
| 2010s | 116,264 |
| 2020s | 47,360 |
Meaning & origin
Jackson was one of the signature boys' names of the early 2000s, and its long descent has been as orderly as its rise. The name crested in 2013 and has slipped a little each year since 2012, yet it still ranked 36th in 2025, about one of every 260 boys, because the peak was so high. Add the respellings Jaxon and Jaxson and the sound remains among the most common a newborn American boy can carry.
Its strongest states are Wyoming, Vermont, and New Hampshire, small rural states where the 2000s surname style is aging most gracefully. That pattern, shared with Carter and Hudson, marks Jackson as a name whose center of gravity has moved from trendsetter metros to the broad middle of the culture.
The name's assets are permanent ones: the built-in classic Jack, an ancestry that traces to plain medieval John, and bearers as varied as Jackson Pollock and Jackson Browne. Parents weighing it should mostly weigh ubiquity, between three spellings and fifteen years of peak popularity, a young Jackson will rarely be the only one in the room.
Jackson is a patronymic surname from northern England and Scotland meaning "son of Jack." Jack itself arose in the Middle Ages as a pet form of John (by way of forms like Jankin), so the name ultimately loops back to the most common medieval male name of all. In America the surname carries heavy historical freight, President Andrew Jackson above all, and the first-name tradition began, as with most surname names, in families honoring a maternal line; it appears in Social Security data from 1880. Painter Jackson Pollock gave it midcentury artistic cachet, but its mass adoption came with the 1990s surname boom, compounded by the phonetic spellings Jaxon and Jaxson, which became hits in their own right.
Read more: Jackson on Wikipedia
Where Jackson is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Jackson” around the world
Where Jackson lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
25
babies in 2024
Ireland
24
babies in 2025
New Zealand
#57
in 2025
Quebec
#34
in 2025
Australia (NSW)
#90
in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec) · NSW Registry of BDM (Australia (NSW)).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Jack, Jax
Famous people named Jackson
- Jackson Pollock · American abstract expressionist painter
- Jackson Browne · American singer-songwriter
- Jackson Wang · Hong Kong rapper and singer
Sibling names for Jackson
Names that share Jackson's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Harper, Addison, Emerson, Presley, Kinsley, Madelyn, Brooklyn, Brynlee, Gracie, Madilyn, Mckenzie, Payton, Raelynn, Addyson, Adelynn, Alyvia, America, Aniston, Ansley, Aubrie, Braelyn, Briella, Brooklynn, Bryleigh, Caydence, Charlee, Daleyza, Dylann, Ellison, Gracelyn, Gracelynn, Hadley, Hailee, Jadyn, Jazlyn, Joselyn, Kailee, Kamri, Kenley, Lexie, Macey, Macie, Madalyn, Madalynn, Maddison, Madelynn, Madilynn, Madisyn, Marleigh, Mckayla, Ryleigh, Addalyn, Adison, Adyson, Alizabeth, Bayleigh, Bayley, Brooklin, Brooklynne, Calleigh, Cayleigh, Emarie, Emilyn, Graycen, Jacelyn, Jackelin, Josalyn, Joselin, Joslynn, Kenlee, Khloee, Kynnedi, Lexington, Londynn, Maddilyn, Madisen, Madisson, Makaylee, Makenzi, Makinley, Mattison, Maycee, Maycie, Mckinzie, Nataleigh, Preslie, Raylynn, Rileigh, Rylei, Rylin, Addisen, Addysen, Adisyn, Adysen, Aleigh, Annslee, Avagrace, Baley, Blakelynn, Brittyn, Brooklyne, Dilynn, Ellasyn, Ellisyn, Emersynn, Emmagrace, Emmalea, Gracelynne, Harlym, Heily, Izzabelle, Jackalyn, Jackelyne, Jacklin, Jaicee, Jesselyn, Kaedence, Kaileah, Kaliegh, Kallee, Karaline, Kaytee, Kenady, Kennadee, Kennidy, Kyliegh, Mackynzie, Madasyn, Maddalyn, Maddisen, Maddyson, Madisynn, Madylin, Maely, Mailey, Mailyn, Makennah, Makynna, Makynzie, Matilyn, Mccartney, Mckenzee, Mckenzy, Mickenzie, Mikenna, Mykenzie, Natalyn, Oliviah, Paytin, Presli, Quinnley, Railey, Adalynne, Addisynn, Adely, Allisen, Allisyn, Alyviah, Amily, Analeigha, Andersyn, Bailei, Bentlie, Brielynn, Brooklen, Brooklinn, Cadynce, Emoree, Gracelin, Haillie, Iszabella, Jakelyn, Jennalynn, Joanny, Josilynn, Kalleigh, Kasidee, Kaydince, Kaylanni, Kayliegh, Kenedee, Kynzie, Lillieann, Louisiana, Maddelynn, Madilyne, Madisan, Madysin, Maille, Makaylie, Makaylynn, Makynzi, Matilynn, Maylyn, Mileigh, Mkenzie, Oliviagrace, Paislynn, Paitynn, Quinnlyn, Rachyl, Savannha, Zayley, Andelyn, Emmersen, Fayelynn, Lilleigh, Mckenzey, Meckenzie, Mikeila, Mylynn, Abbagale, Adasyn, Addalynne, Addasyn, Addilynne, Addysin, Addysyn, Adisen, Adisson, Alexiya, Aubriee, Aubrii, Avenly, Baylynn, Brezlyn, Carsynn, Danilyn, Dylynn, Dynastee, Elliyana, Emalea, Emilynn, Emmaleah, Emmamae, Emylie, Heiley, Heilyn, Heyli, Izzabell, Jacklyne, Jakenzie, Jannelly, Jessabelle, Kaytlen, Kenedie, Kenidy, Kennison, Khailee, Kharlie, Klohe, Mackenzye, Mackinze, Macklyn, Madason, Maddalynn, Madicyn, Madisin, Madissen, Madylyn, Makailyn, Makaley, Makenize, Makensey, Makenzey, Makinze, Matelyn, Matison, Mattelyn, Mattisyn, Maylea, Mckinzy, Mckynna, Mialynn, Milyn, Molleigh, Morgin, Mykenna, Myley, Nadalyn, Rhylei, Ryliee, Savanha, Savannaha, Savhanna, Shailah, Sophiagrace, Southern, Summerlynn
Brothers: Carter, Hudson, Grayson, Lincoln, Wyatt, Mason, Ashton, Bentley, Brayden, Bryson, Caden, Carson, Greyson, Jefferson, Kingston, Preston, Ryder, Skyler, Anderson, Anson, Colson, Columbus, Destin, Draven, Gibson, Hanson, Jacobi, Jamison, Jaydon, Johnson, Maison, Mayson, Miller, Ryland, Tj, Tyson, Williams, Andersen, Ashtin, Brayson, Brison, Corbyn, Eason, Everest, Grayden, Greysen, Haden, Haydon, Henderson, Iverson, Jaidon, Jakoby, Jenson, Jerson, Kaidyn, Kayleb, Linkin, Maxon, Oakland, Robinson, Stevenson, Thompson, Aedyn, Andruw, Beckam, Bensen, Bryceson, Caison, Camaron, Carlson, Caydin, Davidson, Dennison, Donaven, Eddison, Erickson, Graeson, Hawkins, Jamerson, Jamisen, Jaymeson, Jeferson, Kaedan, Kaidan, Kamdon, Karston, Kaydyn, Koltin, Linken, Macen, Maeson, Maxson, Patterson, Peterson, Prestin, Princeston, Quintyn, Richardson, Tayson, Aidenn, Camdin, Cannen, Caydon, Clayten, Davison, Erikson, Graison, Grason, Hawken, Hutchinson, Jakaiden, Kaynen, Lawsen, Layson, Livingston, Masson, Maxwel, Myson, Nashton, Nickson, Snyder, Thomson, Wyatte, Asheton, Benjermin, Carrson, Aason, Brexten, Camdan, Casin, Cayton, Clarkson, Clayden, Coben, Daison, Elison, Garison, Goldman, Graysin, Jameison, Jamyson, Jaymason, Johnavon, Kasson, Keiler, Keyner, Kohlson, Mackson, Mattson, Maxxon, Mayfield, Mclaren, Nixxon, Paydon, Robson, Swanson, Xhaiden
Names like Jackson
Names whose popularity has moved with Jackson's over the last 50 years.
