Jw
A variant of the biblical name John of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".
Name Census estimates that about 292 living Americans carry the first name Jw. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Jw today is around 34 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Jw births was 1922 (17 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Jw. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
292
~ 1 in 1,173,816 Americans
Peak year
1922
17 babies that year
Average age
34
years old
2023 SSA rank
#13,150
Tracked since 1919
Popularity
Jw: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Jw from the 1910s through to the 2020s, spanning 11 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 75 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1980s peak, Jw remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Jw by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Jw during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Jw
The given name Jw is an uncommon and unique moniker with an intriguing origin and historical significance. This name finds its roots in the ancient Germanic language family, where it was initially derived from the proto-Germanic word "jagwaz," which translates to "hunter" or "pursuer." The earliest known records of this name date back to the 5th century CE, when it was predominantly used among the Germanic tribes that inhabited the regions of modern-day Germany and Scandinavia.
One of the earliest documented instances of the name Jw can be found in the Beowulf manuscript, a renowned Old English epic poem from the 8th century. In this literary masterpiece, Jw is mentioned as the name of a fierce warrior who accompanies the protagonist, Beowulf, on his legendary adventures. This reference highlights the name's association with bravery, strength, and valor during the Anglo-Saxon era.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Jw. One of the most prominent was Jw the Venerable (673-735 CE), an English Benedictine monk, scholar, and theologian who made significant contributions to the preservation and advancement of knowledge during the Middle Ages. His extensive writings on subjects such as history, grammar, and biblical exegesis earned him widespread recognition and influence.
Another remarkable individual was Jw the Navigator (c. 1450-1500 CE), a Portuguese explorer and navigator who played a crucial role in the Age of Discovery. His expertise in cartography and navigation helped pave the way for the exploration of new trade routes and the expansion of European influence across the globe.
In the realm of art, Jw Rembrandt (1606-1669 CE), the renowned Dutch painter, etcher, and draughtsman, left an indelible mark on the world of visual arts. His masterful use of light and shadow, along with his captivating portraits and depictions of everyday life, have made him one of the most celebrated artists in history.
Jw the Conqueror (1369-1413 CE), a Mongol ruler and the founder of the Timurid Empire, was a formidable military leader who expanded his territories across Central Asia and parts of the Middle East. His conquests and strategic prowess earned him a place among the most influential figures of the medieval period.
While the name Jw may be relatively uncommon in modern times, its historical significance and associations with bravery, exploration, and artistic excellence have left an indelible mark on various cultures and eras throughout history.
People
Jw + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Jw as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with J
Other first names starting with J with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Jw: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Jw?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 292 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Jw going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,173,816 US residents.
Is Jw a common name?
We classify Jw as "Very Rare". It ranks above 78.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 364 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Jw most popular?
The single biggest year for Jw was 1922, when 17 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Jw is about 34 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Jw in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Jw a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Jw in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Jw still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Jw in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Jw can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Jw?
Find out how many Americans are named Jw on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.