How to say it
JACK · sun
ˈdʒæk.sən
Masculine
Jackson
Son of Jack
What it means
An English surname meaning 'son of Jack.' Jack itself was the medieval nickname for John, so Jackson is two layers of 'God is gracious' folded together.
President Andrew Jackson (1767 to 1845) made the surname a fixture of American political and cultural history. Michael Jackson (1958 to 2009) made it an icon. The shift to a given name accelerated in the 1990s and 2000s alongside the broader surname-as-first-name trend. Currently US top twenty for boys. The variant spelling Jaxon (without the C) has surged on its own and now lives as a distinct popular name. Common short forms: Jack, Jax.
How to spell Jackson
The standard spelling is Jackson. Common variants include Jaxon, Jaxson, Jakson, but Jackson is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #14 in 2021, currently #36 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Jax has become the popular short, particularly since the 2010s. Jack works too but reads as a separate name with its own identity.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Andrew Jackson 7th US president, on the $20 bill
- Michael Jackson King of Pop (Jackson as surname, but the association sticks)
- Jackson Pollock Abstract expressionist painter
Spelling variants
- Jaxon
- Jaxson
- Jakson
Names with the same feeling
See Jackson from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Jackson mean?
- An English surname meaning 'son of Jack.' Jack itself was the medieval nickname for John, so Jackson is two layers of 'God is gracious' folded together.
- What does Jackson mean in English?
- In English, Jackson means "Son of Jack." President Andrew Jackson (1767 to 1845) made the surname a fixture of American political and cultural history. Michael Jackson (1958 to 2009) made it an icon. The shift to a given name accelerated in the 1990s and 2000s alongside the broader surname-as-first-name trend. Currently US top twenty for boys. The variant spelling Jaxon (without the C) has surged on its own and now lives as a distinct popular name. Common short forms: Jack, Jax.
- How do you pronounce Jackson?
- Jackson is pronounced ˈdʒæk.sən. Say it as JACK-sun, with the stress on the "jack" syllable.
- How do you spell Jackson?
- The standard spelling is Jackson. Common spelling variants include Jaxon, Jaxson, Jakson.
- Is Jackson a boy or girl name?
- Jackson is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Jackson?
- Jackson ranked #36 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.