Jazz Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The term 'jazz' originated in American English and is associated with a music genre characterized by its lively energy and improvisation. It evolved from the word 'jasm' and became popular in the early 20th century. Jazz is often viewed as a symbol of cultural vitality and has no direct biblical relevance. Its influences continue to be felt in various modern music forms.
The name Jazz is most popular in California, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Millennials (Gen Y) generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Jazz has been stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Jazz' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3266th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 3932nd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 4574th out of 23106 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 7071st out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 6970th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 7610th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Jazz' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Jazz"
Pronunciation
/dʒæz/
Origin
American English
Etymology
The exact origin of the term 'jazz' is uncertain, but it is believed to have derived from African American Vernacular English in the early 20th century, possibly related to the word 'jasm,' which means energy or vitality.
Meaning
energy, vitality, music genre
Language Evolution
jasm, jazz
Historical Usage
Jazz music emerged in the early 1900s in New Orleans and gained popularity throughout the United States during the 1920s, known as the Jazz Age.
Variants & Derivatives
jazzed, jazzy, jazzman
Modern Popularity & Image
Jazz is currently viewed as a sophisticated and influential genre of music that has greatly shaped modern music styles.
Famous People
Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, John Coltrane
📊 Jazz Name Trend Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Jazz Name Visualizations
✨ Jazz Name Meaning & Significance
Popularity Trend
Less Common name with 63 peak births in 1994
Geographic Spread
Popular across 5 US states, with strongest presence in California
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 6 different American generations with varying popularity
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Jazz"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Jazz"
"Jazz" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3266th of 16616 | 272 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 3932nd of 24088 | 364 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 4574th of 23106 | 261 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 7071st of 27321 | 167 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 6970th of 35406 | 266 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 7610th of 30306 | 177 |
Regional Popularity of "Jazz" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
49.71% 2582nd/5194 |
42.98% 2715th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - |
52.71% 3934th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - |
74.46% 5080th/6822 |
65.98% 4141st/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Jazz" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
100.00% 4475th/4475 |
- |
71.54% 4519th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
100.00% 7313th/7313 |
75.02% 5599th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - |
92.70% 6324th/6822 |
91.95% 5771st/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Jazz"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Jazz" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.