Jack (given name)
Illustration of Jack from the English fairy tale Jack and the Beanstalk | |
| Pronunciation | /dʒæk/ |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Language | English |
| Origin | |
| Language | English |
| Word/name | Middle English, indirect diminutive of "John" or from an anglicized form of French "Jacques" |
| Meaning | "Yahweh is gracious" , "holder of the heel" or "supplanter" |
| Region of origin | England |
| Other names | |
| Nicknames | Jackie, Jacky, Jay |
| Related names | John, James, Jacob, Jackson, Jacques, Jacqueline, Jock |
Jack is a given name of English origin. In modern usage, Jack is often a given name on its own, although it can be used as a diminutive of other given names. Since the late 20th century, Jack has become one of the most common names for boys in many English-speaking countries. Jack is also used to a much lesser extent as a female name, often as a shortened version of Jacqueline.
The word "jack" is also commonly used in other contexts in English for many occupations, objects and actions, linked to the use of the word as a metaphor for a common man.