Jaquan
Primarily a boy's name of American origin with 10,543 recorded births. Also given to 58 girls.
Meaning & Origin
Jaquan sits in the still in active use zone of American naming: first recorded in 1975, peaking in 1999, with 10,543 total births across its history.
The clean, contemporary quality of its ending — among the most common endings in modern American names — keeps the name compact and easy to pair with longer middle names or surnames.
In the most recent SSA release, Jaquan ranks #2078 among U.S. boy names — distinctive enough to stand out.
Jaquan is a boy's and girl's baby name of American origin, a creative coinage in the African American naming tradition, combining the popular Ja- prefix with Juan (the Spanish form of John, from the Hebrew meaning 'God is gracious'). It emerged in the 1980s and 1990s.
With over 10,500 U.S. births, Jaquan has been a significant name in African American communities — it represents the creative, expressive tradition of American name invention, combining cross-cultural elements into something entirely new.
EtymologyShow more
Jaquan appeared in SSA records in 1975, placing it in the modern era of American naming — a period when parents increasingly began breaking from generational naming patterns, experimenting with spelling, and treating naming as a form of creative self-expression. Its American roots may have been the starting point, adapted or respelled to fit contemporary American tastes.
Jaquan’s 10,543 recorded births provide enough of a footprint to establish it as a real, chosen name in American culture — not a typo or a one-off, but a deliberate selection by tens of thousands of families.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Jaquan was #494 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #2078, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 401 | #1928 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 1,320 | #1392 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 3,901 | #623 | — |
| 1990s | 4,322 | #508 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 556 | #1857 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 43 | #4361 | — |
The Story of Jaquan
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 1999, Jaquan is a name that defines a generation. Boys named Jaquan are most likely born between 1989 and 2009.
How rare is Jaquan?
Only about 1 in every 50,000 babies born in 2024 was named Jaquan — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1975, peaked in the 1990s with 4,322 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Jaquan by the numbers
- Would fill 220 school buses
- Meeting one Jaquan per day would take 28.9 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(50 years, 1975–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 72 | #2078 |
| 2023 | 68 | #2134 |
| 2022 | 84 | #1874 |
| 2021 | 81 | #1894 |
| 2020 | 96 | #1662 |
| 2019 | 80 | #1876 |
| 2018 | 89 | #1740 |
| 2017 | 107 | #1533 |
| 2016 | 109 | #1535 |
| 2015 | 103 | #1571 |
| 2014 | 135 | #1311 |
| 2013 | 148 | #1211 |
| 2012 | 169 | #1103 |
| 2011 | 185 | #1028 |
| 2010 | 195 | #1008 |
| 2009 | 226 | #916 |
| 2008 | 270 | #813 |
| 2007 | 289 | #763 |
| 2006 | 349 | #659 |
| 2005 | 366 | #614 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Jaquan as a Girl's Name
While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Jaquan has also been given to 58 girls in the U.S. since 1987.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jaquan a boy's or girl's name?
When was Jaquan most popular?
How popular is the name Jaquan?
Can Jaquan be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1975–2024