Jock
A boy's name of Scottish Gaelic origin with 1,090 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A nickname.
Jock is a boy's baby name of Scottish Gaelic origin, the Scottish diminutive of John — from the Hebrew Yohanan meaning 'God is gracious.' In Scotland, Jock has been used as a standalone given name for centuries, and is so closely associated with Scottish identity that it became a general informal term for a Scottish man.
The name carries the rugged, unpretentious character of traditional Scottish naming — honest, short, and entirely uninterested in pretension. It was most common as a given name in Scottish-American communities in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
EtymologyShow more
Jock is cataloged under the Scottish Gaelic naming tradition. Names from the Scottish Gaelic tradition carry linguistic and cultural patterns that shape their sound, structure, and associations.
In the U.S., Jock has been recorded as a boy's name since 1916, with 1,090 total births. Browse the Scottish Gaelic names hub on this site to explore the broader family.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Jock has 70+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1916.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 18 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 31 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 151 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 98 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 263 | — |
| 1950s | 288 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 153 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 45 | ▲ |
| 1920s | 33 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 10 | — |
The Story of Jock
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1957, Jock is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Boys named Jock are most likely born between 1947 and 1967.
How rare is Jock?
With 1,090 total births on record, Jock remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1916, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1950s with 288 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Jock by the numbers
- Would fill 23 school buses
- Meeting one Jock per day would take 3 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(70 years, 1916–2009)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 6 | #11650 |
| 2007 | 5 | #13299 |
| 2001 | 7 | #8719 |
| 1995 | 7 | #7356 |
| 1993 | 7 | #7174 |
| 1991 | 11 | #4928 |
| 1990 | 6 | #7580 |
| 1989 | 9 | #5373 |
| 1988 | 15 | #3435 |
| 1987 | 13 | #3624 |
| 1986 | 10 | #4289 |
| 1985 | 19 | #2642 |
| 1984 | 14 | #3187 |
| 1983 | 23 | #2239 |
| 1982 | 14 | #3197 |
| 1981 | 16 | #2829 |
| 1980 | 18 | #2672 |
| 1979 | 11 | #3682 |
| 1978 | 5 | #6260 |
| 1976 | 5 | #6013 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jock a boy's or girl's name?
When was Jock most popular?
How popular is the name Jock?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1916–2009