Jennings Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Jennings originates from the Old English diminutive 'Jenning', which is derived from the Hebrew name 'Yohanan', meaning 'Yahweh is gracious'. Over time, it evolved through historical forms such as 'John' and 'Jenning'. It signifies 'son of John'. The name is not directly linked to biblical narratives but stems from a biblical name. Jennings gained popularity in England during the Middle Ages and is associated with familial heritage today. Variants include Jenning and Jenkins, with notable individuals contributing to its recognition.
The name Jennings is most popular in West Virginia, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South 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, Jennings has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South. Across generations, 'Jennings' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 717th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 829th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1310th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2409th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3429th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 4694th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2132nd out of 23106 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 21402nd out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 17274th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 6388th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Jennings' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Jennings"
Pronunciation
/ˈdʒɛnɪŋz/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The surname Jennings is derived from the given name 'Jenning', which is a diminutive form of 'John'. The name 'John' itself comes from the Hebrew name 'Yohanan', meaning 'Yahweh is gracious'.
Meaning
Son of John
Language Evolution
John (Old English: Iohan), Jenning (Middle English), Jennings (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name Jennings became more widely used in England during the Middle Ages, particularly as a surname for families descended from individuals named John.
Variants & Derivatives
Jenning, Jenkins, Jenna
Modern Popularity & Image
In contemporary times, Jennings is perceived as a traditional surname, often associated with a sense of heritage and family lineage.
Famous People
David Jennings, a notable British politician., Samantha Jennings, a prominent artist., William Jennings Bryan, an influential American orator and politician.
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Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Jennings"
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 "Jennings"
"Jennings" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 717th of 7545 | 1,280 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 829th of 6773 | 1,063 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1310th of 7552 | 660 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2409th of 10718 | 255 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3429th of 16616 | 254 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 4694th of 24088 | 286 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 2132nd of 23106 | 804 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 21402nd of 27321 | 14 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 17274th of 35406 | 57 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 6388th of 30306 | 227 |
Regional Popularity of "Jennings" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
74.79% 1059th/1416 |
91.44% 1261st/1379 |
22.44% 531st/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
24.95% 587th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
55.73% 1241st/2227 |
- |
34.38% 981st/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - |
49.26% 1733rd/3518 |
- |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
67.60% 3511th/5194 |
- |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
68.67% 5022nd/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
57.38% 2286th/3984 |
- |
24.67% 1683rd/6822 |
- |
Regional Popularity of "Jennings" 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) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - |
100.00% 6822nd/6822 |
- |
State-by-State Popularity of "Jennings"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Jennings" 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.