Etymology tree
Biblical Hebrew עָקַב
Biblical Hebrew יַעֲקֹב (yaʿăqōḇ)bor.
Ancient Greek Ἰακώβ (Iakṓb)
Ancient Greek Ἰάκωβος (Iákōbos)bor.
Latin Iācōbusslbor.?
French Jacquesder.
Middle English Jackin
English Jack
From Middle English Jak, Jakke (also Jackin, Jankyn, etc.), from Anglo-Norman Jakke, *Janke, from Middle Dutch Janke, diminutive of Jan (“John”); equivalent to John + -kin. Doublet of Yankee.
It can be also used as nickname for Jacob. Though the name was originally a pet form, it has become more of an independent name. See also Middle French Hennequin, Jannequin, Middle Dutch Janneken, English Jake and Jacques.
Meanings
(informal) A placeholder or conventional name for any man, particularly a younger, lower-class man.
Well, if you ever plan to motor west / Jack, take my way, it's the highway that's the best / Get your kicks on Route 66 1946 April 22, Bobby Troup, “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66”, in New Juke Box Hits, performed by Chuck Berry, published March 1961, side 2, track 2:
(abbreviation, alt-of, archaic, ellipsis, informal) Ellipsis of Jack Tar, a sailor.
When he went home on leave he rioted on a large scale—pompously. Jack ashore—with a difference—in externals only. 1899, Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness, section 1:
(abbreviation, alt-of, archaic, ellipsis, informal) Ellipsis of Jack Rum, a soldier.
Etymology tree
Biblical Hebrew עָקַב
Biblical Hebrew יַעֲקֹב (yaʿăqōḇ)bor.
Ancient Greek Ἰακώβ (Iakṓb)
Ancient Greek Ἰάκωβος (Iákōbos)bor.
Latin Iācōbusslbor.?
French Jacquesder.
Middle English Jackin
English Jack
From Middle English Jak, Jakke (also Jackin, Jankyn, etc.), from Anglo-Norman Jakke, *Janke, from Middle Dutch Janke, diminutive of Jan (“John”); equivalent to John + -kin. Doublet of Yankee.
It can be also used as nickname for Jacob. Though the name was originally a pet form, it has become more of an independent name. See also Middle French Hennequin, Jannequin, Middle Dutch Janneken, English Jake and Jacques.
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) A unisex given name derived from a pet form of the name John. Occasionally a diminutive of other given names such as Jackson, Jacob, Jacqueline or Jonathan.
Chief Judge Jack Tuter, who oversees the 17th Judicial Circuit Court in Fort Lauderdale, released a statement over the weekend berating Ehrlich for her conduct. 2018 April 23, Chuck Johnston, “Judge not allowed back to court after berating woman who died”, in CNN, archived from the original on 12 Nov 2025:
Heere comes leane Iacke, heere comes bare-bone. How now my ſweet Creature of Bombaſt, how long is't agoe, Iacke, ſince thou ſaw'ſt thine owne Knee? c. 1597, William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, with the Life and Death of Henry, Sirnamed Hot-spvrre”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies, London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, act II, scene iv, page 58, column 1:
JACK. Well, really, Gwendolen, I must say that I think that there are lots of other much nicer names. I think Jack, for instance, a charming name.
GWENDOLEN. Jack?...No, there is very little music in the name Jack, if any at all, indeed. It does not thrill. It produces absolutely no vibrations...I have known several Jacks, and they all, without exception, were more than usually plain. Besides, Jack is a notorious domesticity for John! 1895, Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest […] , [Act I]:
Since every Jack became a gentleman
there's many a gentle person made a Jack. c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]:
(countable, uncountable) A surname.
(colloquial, countable, uncountable) Jack Daniel's, a brand of Tennessee whiskey.
Before I leave, brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack. 2009, “Tik Tok”, performed by Ke$ha (Kesha Rose Sebert):
Got a boy back home in Michigan / And it tastes like Jack when I'm kissing him / So I told him that I never really liked his friends / Now he's gone and he's calling me a bitch again 2017, Halsey, Ricky Reed, Justin Tranter, Rogét Chahayed, “Bad at Love”, in Hopeless Fountain Kingdom, performed by Halsey:
(countable, uncountable) An unincorporated community in Coffee County, Alabama, United States.
(countable, uncountable) An unincorporated community in Dent County, Missouri, United States.
(abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable) Ellipsis of Monterey Jack, a type of cheese.
scn Jàcumu (anglicized form of Jacques) · sk Jano (pet name of John) · sco Jamie (anglicized form of Jacques) · el Τζακ (pet name of John) · war Santiago (anglicized form of Jacques) · nl Jakob (anglicized form of Jacques) · de Hans (pet name of John) · co Ghjàcumu (anglicized form of Jacques) · sco Jock (anglicized form of Jacques) · sl Jakob (anglicized form of Jacques) · ro Iacob (anglicized form of Jacques) · hi जैक (anglicized form of Jacques) · li Jakobus (anglicized form of Jacques) · sco Jaucob (anglicized form of Jacques) · mnc ᠶᠠᡴᠣᠪ (anglicized form of Jacques) · gl Xaime (anglicized form of Jacques) · lt Jokūbas (anglicized form of Jacques) · fy Japik (anglicized form of Jacques) · no Jack (anglicized form of Jacques) · cs Honza (pet name of John) · io Iakobus (anglicized form of Jacques) · lv Jēkabs (anglicized form of Jacques) · sl Janko (pet name of John) · ko 제임스 (anglicized form of Jacques) · haw Iakopo (anglicized form of Jacques) · syc ܝܥܩܘܒ (anglicized form of Jacques) · it Iago (anglicized form of Jacques) · ar يَعْقُوب (anglicized form of Jacques) · is Jaki (anglicized form of Jacques) · el Ιάκωβος (anglicized form of Jacques) · cop ⲓⲁⲕⲱⲃ (anglicized form of Jacques) · fo Jákup (anglicized form of Jacques) · ja ジャック (pet name of John) · uk Я́ків (anglicized form of Jacques) · de Hansi (pet name of John) · ca Xaume (anglicized form of Jacques) · vi Yacôbê (anglicized form of Jacques) · cmn 傑克 /杰克 (pet name of John) · fa یعقوب (anglicized form of Jacques) · sw Yakobo (anglicized form of Jacques) · mi Haki (pet name of John) · scn Jàbbucu (anglicized form of Jacques) · zea Jakobus (anglicized form of Jacques) · fi Jussi (pet name of John) · es Santi (anglicized form of Jacques) · ko 잭 (pet name of John) · pt João (pet name of John) · es Jacob (anglicized form of Jacques) · es Jaime (anglicized form of Jacques) · sco James (anglicized form of Jacques) · wa Djåke (anglicized form of Jacques) · da Jack (pet name of John) · el Ιακώβ (anglicized form of Jacques) · sco Jock (pet name of John) · cdo 雅各 (anglicized form of Jacques) · cmn 傑克 /杰克 (anglicized form of Jacques) · bg Джак (pet name of John) · fr Jeannot (pet name of John) · ha Yaƙubu (anglicized form of Jacques) · sk Jakub (anglicized form of Jacques) · ba Яҡуп (anglicized form of Jacques) · xag 𐔺𐔰𐕄𐕒𐔱 (anglicized form of Jacques) · ja ジェイムズ (anglicized form of Jacques) · ja サンティアゴ (anglicized form of Jacques) · pt Jaime (anglicized form of Jacques) · ee Yakob (anglicized form of Jacques) · fo Jacob (anglicized form of Jacques) · sh Јаков (anglicized form of Jacques) · pt Jacó (anglicized form of Jacques) · bar Jackl (anglicized form of Jacques) · it Jacopo (anglicized form of Jacques) · mi Hākopa (anglicized form of Jacques) · sv Jakob (anglicized form of Jacques) · nrf Jâcob (anglicized form of Jacques) · ru Ва́ня (pet name of John) · bn জ্যাক (anglicized form of Jacques) · ja ジャック (anglicized form of Jacques) · hu Jancsi (pet name of John) · es Yago (anglicized form of Jacques) · ko 야곱 (anglicized form of Jacques) · af Jaco (anglicized form of Jacques) · pt Tiago (anglicized form of Jacques) · nv Jéíkab (anglicized form of Jacques) · da Jakob (anglicized form of Jacques) · vi Giacơ (anglicized form of Jacques) · ca Jaume (anglicized form of Jacques) · tr Yakub (anglicized form of Jacques) · pt Iago (anglicized form of Jacques) · nrf Jimce (anglicized form of Jacques) · ga Séamas (anglicized form of Jacques) · la Iacobus (anglicized form of Jacques) · ko 야고보 (anglicized form of Jacques) · tl Jaime (anglicized form of Jacques) · it Giacomo (anglicized form of Jacques) · pt Diogo (anglicized form of Jacques) · sv Jack (pet name of John) · ceb Santiago (anglicized form of Jacques) · ar جَاك (anglicized form of Jacques) · is Jack (anglicized form of Jacques) · gl Xacobe (anglicized form of Jacques) · gv Jamys (anglicized form of Jacques) · he ג׳ק (anglicized form of Jacques) · yi יעקבֿ (anglicized form of Jacques) · mt Ġwakkin (pet name of John) · ga Séamus (anglicized form of Jacques) · fi Jaakko (anglicized form of Jacques) · ka იაკობი (anglicized form of Jacques) · ru Джеймс (anglicized form of Jacques) · eo Jakobo (anglicized form of Jacques) · de Hansl (pet name of John) · eo Ĵakvo (pet name of John) · sv Jacob (anglicized form of Jacques) · sco Jack (anglicized form of Jacques) · grc Ἰάκωβος (anglicized form of Jacques) · tr Yakup (anglicized form of Jacques) · la Iohannes (pet name of John) · vi Giacóp (anglicized form of Jacques) · nl Jaap (anglicized form of Jacques) · gd Seumas (anglicized form of Jacques) · fr Jack (anglicized form of Jacques) · oc Jammes (anglicized form of Jacques) · de Hansel (pet name of John) · pl Jasiek (pet name of John) · ru Джек (pet name of John) · hy Հակոբ (anglicized form of Jacques) · de Hannes (pet name of John) · pl Jaś (pet name of John) · fr Jacques (anglicized form of Jacques) · br Jakez (anglicized form of Jacques) · ab Еқәыԥ (anglicized form of Jacques) · iu ᔮᑯᑉ (anglicized form of Jacques) · eo Joĉjo (pet name of John) · mt Ġakbu (anglicized form of Jacques) · eu Jakes (anglicized form of Jacques) · hu Jankó (pet name of John) · ja ヤコブ (anglicized form of Jacques) · mr जॅक (anglicized form of Jacques) · fur Jacum (anglicized form of Jacques) · kl Jaaku (anglicized form of Jacques) · se Jáhkot (anglicized form of Jacques) · br Jagu (anglicized form of Jacques) · gd Sheumais (anglicized form of Jacques) · kw Jago (anglicized form of Jacques) · et Jaak (anglicized form of Jacques) · sco Jeames (anglicized form of Jacques) · la Jacobus (anglicized form of Jacques) · sv Jack (anglicized form of Jacques) · sco Peem (anglicized form of Jacques) · gd Seoc (pet name of John) · it Giacobbe (anglicized form of Jacques) · fa جیمز (anglicized form of Jacques) · es Jacobo (anglicized form of Jacques) · ms Yaacob (anglicized form of Jacques) · ar جَيْمْس (anglicized form of Jacques) · es Iago (anglicized form of Jacques) · sl Jani (pet name of John) · mr जॅक (pet name of John) · tl Santiago (anglicized form of Jacques) · ka ჯეიმზ (anglicized form of Jacques) · hu Jakab (anglicized form of Jacques) · no Jakob (anglicized form of Jacques) · es Juanito (pet name of John) · gl Xácome (anglicized form of Jacques) · cs Jakub (anglicized form of Jacques) · de Hanns (pet name of John) · cs Honzík (pet name of John) · haw Iakopa (anglicized form of Jacques) · sw Yaakub (anglicized form of Jacques) · oc Jaume (anglicized form of Jacques) · ru Я́ков (anglicized form of Jacques) · an Chaime (anglicized form of Jacques) · nl Jacobus (anglicized form of Jacques) · cy Iago (anglicized form of Jacques) · es Santiago (anglicized form of Jacques) · sco Hamish (anglicized form of Jacques) · da Jack (anglicized form of Jacques) · it Gianni (pet name of John) · sk Janko (pet name of John) · ms Yakub (anglicized form of Jacques) · zdj Yakuba (anglicized form of Jacques) · lv Džeimss (anglicized form of Jacques) · is Jakob (anglicized form of Jacques) · is Jakop (anglicized form of Jacques) · fy Jakobus (anglicized form of Jacques) · gl Santiago (anglicized form of Jacques) · be Я́каў (anglicized form of Jacques) · ja ジェームズ (anglicized form of Jacques) · haw Kimo (anglicized form of Jacques) · sh Jakov (anglicized form of Jacques) · nl Jacob (anglicized form of Jacques) · la Jacomus (anglicized form of Jacques) · hi जैक (pet name of John) · pl Jakub (anglicized form of Jacques) · es Diego (anglicized form of Jacques) · gl Iago (anglicized form of Jacques) · ko 잭 (anglicized form of Jacques) · el Γιάννης (pet name of John) · af Jakobus (anglicized form of Jacques) · bg Джак (anglicized form of Jacques) · de Hänsel (pet name of John) · cy Jac (anglicized form of Jacques) · mi Hēmi (anglicized form of Jacques) · no Jacob (anglicized form of Jacques) · bn জ্যাক (pet name of John) · xcl Յակոբ (anglicized form of Jacques) · el Τζέιμς (anglicized form of Jacques) · vi Giacôbê (anglicized form of Jacques) · mi Haki (anglicized form of Jacques) · fa جک (pet name of John) · vi Giacôbe (anglicized form of Jacques) · af Jako (anglicized form of Jacques) · la Ioannes (pet name of John) · ms Yaakub (anglicized form of Jacques) · da Jacob (anglicized form of Jacques) · mk Јаков (anglicized form of Jacques) · az Ceyms (anglicized form of Jacques) · oc Jacme (anglicized form of Jacques) · ar جَاك (pet name of John) · zdj Yakub (anglicized form of Jacques) · yue 雅各 (anglicized form of Jacques) · fo Jakob (anglicized form of Jacques) · ar جَايْمْز (anglicized form of Jacques) · fr Jacob (anglicized form of Jacques) · th ยาโคบ (anglicized form of Jacques) · oc James (anglicized form of Jacques) · bg Я́ков (anglicized form of Jacques) · frp Jâque (anglicized form of Jacques) · cy Jac (pet name of John)