Name of the Day: Jackson
He’s a riff on the evergreen John, and a hero name, too.
Our Name of the Day is Jackson.
The trend to promote last names to the first spot accelerated in the 1990s. But bestowing a family surname – or one borrowed from a friend or historical figure – is a long tradition. Some of today’s popular choices have been around for generations.
Jackson is a prime example. He’s charted in the US Top 1000 for Boys every year since 1880. He fell to #832 in 1969, but has been climbing ever since.
As of 2008, Jackson ranked #32. That’s a few places ahead of Jack (#39), though comfortably behind John (#20). He’s also inspired spin-offs and respellings, including:
- Jaxon (#154)
- Jaxson (#268)
For many parents, Jack might feel like not-quite-enough name. And I’ve heard more than one person argue that Jack seems disconnected from John. Jackson splits the difference - he’s modern but not too terribly nouveau. Parents born in the 1970s probably never met one. And the nickname Jack follows logically.
Name aficionados all know that Jack is a diminutive of John, long in use as an independent given name. (Though many famous Jacks, from JFK to London to Nicholson, were actually born John.)
There are two possible sources:
- The simplest one is that the French Jacques – James – was imported to English as Jack – but, of course, this fails to connect John and Jack;
- Others present the link as the product of medieval diminutives. Jankin was the medieval equivalent of Johnny. Over the years Jankin lost his “n” and became Jackin.
There’s also an argument that Jack is a short form of Jacob, though not in English. It’s hard to say which theory is correct, but it is worth noting that at least some French speakers have also made the link – Jack Kerouac was born Jean. (His parents were from Quebec.)
Jackson is, of course, a surname based on Jack. He conjures up:
- The artistic, from Jackson Pollock (born Paul Jackson Pollock) known for dripping liquid paint on massive canvases, to the controversial King of Pop himself, the late Michael Jackson, to Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson;
- American leaders, from seventh president of the United States Andrew Jackson to Confederate general Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson;
- Athletes, from former NFL and MLB star Bo Jackson to Mr. October, baseball hall-of-famer Reggie Jackson;
- Leading thinkers, like physicist Shirley Jackson, the current president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Charles Loring Jackson, who brought the study organic chemistry to the US in the late nineteenth century.
The next generation of parents will have a very different association for the name. Forget painters and academics, Jackson is big brother to Hannah Montana. Miley isn’t the only name the Disney Channel series has boosted.
Jackson is on the map all over the United States and beyond, in Queensland and Nunavut. Johnny Cash and June Carter recorded a song called “Jackson” about a couple headed Jackson – though they don’t say if it was Jackson, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana … the list goes on.
While he can’t be called unusual – or even distinctive – Jackson has broad appeal. He’s Southern-fried, what with all those places named after the Confederate general, but he’s also sophisticated, bringing to mind the world’s most famous art museums.
Little wonder Jackson is on top.
Filed under: Last Names First, Names for Boys, Names of the Day | 15 Comments
Tags: Jack, Jackin, Jackson, Jacob, Jacques, Jankin, Jaxon, Jaxson, Jean, John, Johnny, Miley
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We had 4 Jackson’s on my daughter’s birthday party list. I see the appeal of this name, but am OVER it! I’d much rather meet a John nn’ed Jack.
I think a lot of this name’s appeal was boosted by Steel Magnolia in 1989. Julia Roberts’ husband was named Jackson and was played by Dylan McDermott. A line by Olympia Dukakis: “Jackson sounds like good people to me.” You can’t get a more ringing endorsement than that.
The only name I remember from that movie was Shelby. That is not one of my favorites, but it sure stuck out to me in the film.
Specifically about Jackson itself – I always want to put Hole after it (as in WY), and if other factors didn’t turn me off of Jackson for my own personal use, that does. That said, I don’t find the name awful, just not my thing.
Jeez! Slighlty off topic but Jack is only #39 in the US? It’s the number one name here, Australia, England/Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland. There’s so many I tend to drop them from the BAs I post (along with Charlotte and Sophie) which does give a skewed view of what’s going on.
No small wonder I find Jackson slightly more refreshing. It’s innocuous and pleasant enough as far as surnames go but the pimped Jaxon, Jaxson and Co. spellings do my head in.
Meh, can’t say that I like this, it feels kind of low brow to me. I much prefer the more classy and distinguished Jack.
I know a Jackson who was named thus in order to have a full name to fall back on despite his parents’ intentions of calling him Jack. Eighteen months later, they still call him Jackson. It is very common in my area, probably more so than Jack alone.
*waves*
I think that’s why Jacob is so popular…the parents all intend to call him Jake. It extends to parents too. I still call my mom Momma and my dad Daddy!
Sometimes it seemed like every other woman on my birth board was going to be calling her son either Jackson, Jaxon, or Jaxxon (yes, we had a couple of those). I was a fan of “J” names back in 1997, but this is one that never really made my list, and now, after hearing it so much, probably never will.
My son had a classmate named Jackson, born in 2004. His mom was inspired by the artist, but mostly wanted something that was just a little different.
Jaxxon, yikes! It reminds me of Keanu Reeves’ character in Feeling Minnesota – Jjaks.
Jackson’s a place for me too. Jackson, NJ is home to Six Flags. A place I spent a lot of time at as a kid/teen.
So I’d be far more inclined to use John, nn Jack. But a John of mine would probably get the retro Johnny. ala Johnny Quest. Now that appeals more than Jack!
Jackson’s alright but not my cuppa tuna.
Also in TV Land: On Gilmore Girls there’s Jackson Belleville, married to Sookie (interesting name) and on Sons of Anarchy Jackson also answers to Jacks (Jax?). My maternal grandfather was Anthony but everyone called him Jack.
I forgot to mention re: Steel Magnolias that Shelby and Jackson’s son was named Jackson Latcherie Jr., usually called Jack or Jack Jr.
My nephew is a Jackson.
If I remember correctly SIL wanted Sutton or Oliver which are both family names and my brother wanted Cameron or Aubrey because “they’re different.” Instead they ended up with the the most common of the bunch as a compromise.
LOL, Julie – I think that happens A LOT.