Jack | Name Meaning & Origin

Australian Names, British Names, American Names, English Names, Nicknames or Pet Names, Popular Names, President Names

English speaking countries

Though originally a nickname for John, Jack is frequently given as a stand-alone name today. In the UK, it has been the most popular name for baby boys for the last thirteen years.

In cards, a jack is the lowest-ranking of the face cards.

Famous folkloric bearers of this name include Jack Be Nimble and Jack Spratt, of nursery rhyme fame, as well as Jack and the Beanstalk.

In English-language slang, "you don't know jack" means "you don't know anything." "Jack," in this situation, stands in for a cruder phrase. In American slang, jack can also be used to say something has been disturbed or messed up (e.g. "this is jacked up"), or as an onanistic euphemism.

American President John F. Kennedy was more well known as "Jack".