Declining since 1988, #2,833 for boys today.
Popularity of Jarvis since 1882
Babies named Jarvis per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 46 |
| 1890s | 21 |
| 1900s | 39 |
| 1910s | 273 |
| 1920s | 438 |
| 1930s | 436 |
| 1940s | 384 |
| 1950s | 879 |
| 1960s | 945 |
| 1970s | 2,044 |
| 1980s | 4,774 |
| 1990s | 3,736 |
| 2000s | 1,854 |
| 2010s | 1,352 |
| 2020s | 499 |
Meaning & origin
Jarvis is an English surname-turned-given name with medieval roots. Its first recorded use as a first name dates to 1882. The name reached its peak popularity in 1989, and has been declining in use since 1988. In 2025 it ranked 2,833, a rarity of about 1 in 38,820 boys. The name enjoyed its strongest decades in the 1980s and 1990s. Historically it has been most common in southern states like Tennessee, Georgia, and Texas. Jarvis has a straightforward pronunciation and the friendly nicknames Jar and Jarv.
Jarvis is an English surname that came into use as a given name. It is generally thought to be derived from the Norman French personal name Gervais, which in turn comes from a Germanic root meaning 'spear' and a second element possibly meaning 'servant' or 'strong'. The name has been used in England since the Middle Ages, both as a surname and occasionally as a first name.
Where Jarvis 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.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Jar, Jarv
Sibling names for Jarvis
Names that share Jarvis's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Jarvis
Names whose popularity has moved with Jarvis's over the last 50 years.
