Holding steady.
Popularity of Jarreau since 1977
Babies named Jarreau per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 22 |
| 1980s | 115 |
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s | 10 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Jarreau is a distinctive modern given name that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1977. Its usage peaked in 1983, the same year singer Al Jarreau won a Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. The name has remained in consistent but sparse use since then, with a stable trajectory through the decades. Although never ranking in the top 1000, it carries a musical legacy and a French-inflected sophistication.
Jarreau is most likely a respelling of the French surname Jarreau, which in turn may be a diminutive of a given name such as Gérard or a topographic name from a place named Jarre. The surname gained visibility through the American singer Al Jarreau (1940-2017), born Alwin Lopez Jarreau, whose father was a Seventh-day Adventist minister. The use of Jarreau as a given name in the United States dates to the late 1970s, likely influenced by the performer's rising fame.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Jay, Jar
Variants: Jaroe, Jarrow, Jaro
Sibling names for Jarreau
Names that share Jarreau's style, for a brother or sister.
