Baby Name Wiki at 22:52, 18 April 2026

2026-04-18T22:52:44Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:52, 18 April 2026
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	* [[Argonauts]]		* [[Argonauts]]
	* [[Golden Fleece]]		* [[Golden Fleece]]
	* [[Jason Voorhees]]
	* [[Jason Bourne]]
	* [[List of most popular given names]]		* [[List of most popular given names]]

Baby Name Wiki: Created page with "{| style="float: right; clear: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1.5em; background: #f8f9fa; border: 1px solid #aaa; font-size: 88%; line-height: 1.5em; width: 22em; border-collapse: collapse;" |- | colspan="2" style="background: #eaecf0; text-align: center; font-size: 1.15em; font-weight: bold; padding: 5px;" | Jason |- | colspan="2" style="text-align: center; padding: 3px; font-style: italic; border-bottom: 1px solid #aaa;" | Given name |- | style="padding: 3px 0.6em; font-weight..."

2026-04-18T22:51:56Z

Created page with "{| style="float: right; clear: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1.5em; background: #f8f9fa; border: 1px solid #aaa; font-size: 88%; line-height: 1.5em; width: 22em; border-collapse: collapse;" |- | colspan="2" style="background: #eaecf0; text-align: center; font-size: 1.15em; font-weight: bold; padding: 5px;" | Jason |- | colspan="2" style="text-align: center; padding: 3px; font-style: italic; border-bottom: 1px solid #aaa;" | Given name |- | style="padding: 3px 0.6em; font-weight..."

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{| style="float: right; clear: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1.5em; background: #f8f9fa; border: 1px solid #aaa; font-size: 88%; line-height: 1.5em; width: 22em; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
| colspan="2" style="background: #eaecf0; text-align: center; font-size: 1.15em; font-weight: bold; padding: 5px;" | Jason
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center; padding: 3px; font-style: italic; border-bottom: 1px solid #aaa;" | Given name
|-
| style="padding: 3px 0.6em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; width: 40%; border-top: 1px solid #aaa;" | Pronunciation
| style="padding: 3px 0.6em; vertical-align: top; border-top: 1px solid #aaa;" | /ˈdʒeɪsən/
|-
| style="padding: 3px 0.6em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; border-top: 1px solid #aaa;" | Gender
| style="padding: 3px 0.6em; vertical-align: top; border-top: 1px solid #aaa;" | Male
|-
| style="padding: 3px 0.6em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; border-top: 1px solid #aaa;" | Language
| style="padding: 3px 0.6em; vertical-align: top; border-top: 1px solid #aaa;" | English, Greek
|-
| style="padding: 3px 0.6em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; border-top: 1px solid #aaa;" | Origin
| style="padding: 3px 0.6em; vertical-align: top; border-top: 1px solid #aaa;" | [[Ancient Greek]]
|-
| style="padding: 3px 0.6em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; border-top: 1px solid #aaa;" | Meaning
| style="padding: 3px 0.6em; vertical-align: top; border-top: 1px solid #aaa;" | "Healer" or "to heal"
|-
| style="padding: 3px 0.6em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; border-top: 1px solid #aaa;" | Region
| style="padding: 3px 0.6em; vertical-align: top; border-top: 1px solid #aaa;" | United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Greece
|-
| style="padding: 3px 0.6em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top; border-top: 1px solid #aaa;" | Related
| style="padding: 3px 0.6em; vertical-align: top; border-top: 1px solid #aaa;" | Jayson, Jasen, Iason, Jason (Ιάσων), Jay
|}

'''Jason''' is a masculine given name of [[Ancient Greek]] origin, derived from the Greek ''Ἰάσων'' (''Iásōn''), meaning "healer" or "to heal." The name has deep roots in [[Greek mythology]] as the hero who led the [[Argonauts]] on a quest for the [[Golden Fleece]]. Jason rose to become one of the most popular masculine given names in the [[United States]] and other English-speaking countries during the 1970s and 1980s, and remains in widespread use today.

== Etymology ==

The name Jason derives from the [[Ancient Greek]] verb ''ἰάομαι'' (''iáomai''), meaning "to heal." It is closely related to the name [[Iason]], the original Greek form, and shares its root with the name of the Greek god of medicine, [[Asclepius|Asclepius (Ἀσκληπιός)]], as well as with the common Greek name element found in [[Hygieia]] and related words for health and healing.

Some scholars have alternatively proposed a connection to the Greek word ''ἴασις'' (''íasis''), meaning "healing" or "remedy," reinforcing the medicinal interpretation of the name's meaning.

The name entered the English-speaking world primarily through two routes: the [[Bible|Biblical]] figure of Jason of [[Thessalonica]] mentioned in the [[Acts of the Apostles]], and the enduring cultural influence of the myth of [[Jason and the Argonauts]]. The Anglicised pronunciation shifted the initial sound from the Greek /j/ to the English /dʒ/, giving the modern English rendering /ˈdʒeɪsən/.

== Mythology ==

The most famous bearer of the name in antiquity is '''[[Jason (mythology)|Jason]]''', the legendary hero of [[Greek mythology]] and leader of the [[Argonauts]]. According to the myth, Jason was the rightful heir to the throne of [[Iolcos]] in [[Thessaly]], usurped by his uncle [[Pelias]]. To reclaim his kingdom, Jason was tasked with retrieving the [[Golden Fleece]] from the distant land of [[Colchis]] (modern-day [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]).

Jason assembled a crew of heroes — the Argonauts, named after their ship the ''[[Argo]]'' — including figures such as [[Heracles]], [[Orpheus]], and [[Castor and Pollux|Castor and Pollux]]. The voyage featured numerous legendary trials, and Jason ultimately succeeded with the aid of the sorceress [[Medea]], whom he later married. The story has been retold across millennia in literature, art, and film, and remains one of the foundational narratives of [[Western culture]].

== Biblical References ==

A figure named '''Jason of Thessalonica''' appears in the [[New Testament]], specifically in the [[Acts of the Apostles]] (Acts 17:5–9) and in [[Paul's letter to the Romans]] (Romans 16:21). He is described as a host and supporter of the [[Apostle Paul]] during his visit to [[Thessalonica]]. This Biblical connection helped keep the name in use through the [[Middle Ages]] in Christian communities and contributed to its eventual widespread adoption in the English-speaking world.

== History and Usage ==

=== Early and Medieval Usage ===

Following its Biblical and mythological associations, Jason was used intermittently in [[Europe]] through the medieval period, particularly in communities with strong classical or Christian scholarly traditions. However, it was not a common everyday name in [[England]] or [[America]] prior to the 20th century.

=== 20th Century Rise ===

Jason began its dramatic rise in popularity in the United States in the 1950s, accelerating sharply through the 1960s and reaching peak popularity in the 1970s. By 1974, Jason had become the single most popular boys' name in the United States, a position it held for several years. It remained in the top five through the early 1980s before beginning a gradual decline in the late 20th century.

The name's rise coincided with a broader cultural moment in which classical and mythological names — such as [[Eric]], [[Mark]], and [[Scott]] — became fashionable for baby boys in the post-[[World War II]] era.

=== Late 20th and 21st Century ===

Though Jason declined from its peak, it has remained a consistently popular name. It has never left the top 200 boys' names in the United States since its rise, and continues to rank in the top 100 in many years. The name is now associated with multiple generations of bearers and carries a well-established, classic feel.

== Popularity ==

=== United States ===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Rank (Boys)
|-
| 1950 || #89
|-
| 1960 || #19
|-
| 1970 || #3
|-
| 1974 || #1
|-
| 1980 || #4
|-
| 1990 || #17
|-
| 2000 || #44
|-
| 2010 || #71
|-
| 2020 || #99
|-
| 2023 || #107
|}

Data sourced from the [[Social Security Administration]].

=== United Kingdom ===

Jason was also highly popular in the United Kingdom during the 1970s and 1980s, ranking among the top 20 boys' names during that period.

=== Australia ===

The name enjoyed similarly strong popularity in [[Australia]] throughout the 1970s and 1980s, frequently appearing in top-ten lists during those decades.

== Spelling Variants ==

* '''Jayson''' — a phonetic respelling common in the United States
* '''Jasen''' — a less common alternate spelling
* '''Iason''' — the original [[Ancient Greek]] form, still used in [[Greece]] and [[Cyprus]]
* '''Jay''' — an informal short form

== Cultural References ==

=== Film and Television ===

* '''[[Jason Voorhees]]''' — the fictional [[slasher film]] antagonist of the ''[[Friday the 13th (franchise)|Friday the 13th]]'' franchise (1980–present), one of the most recognizable characters in [[horror film]] history. The character has made Jason one of the most culturally prominent name associations in modern popular culture.
* '''[[Jason Bourne]]''' — the fictional [[CIA]] operative and protagonist of the ''[[Bourne (film series)|Bourne]]'' film series (2002–present), based on the novels by [[Robert Ludlum]]. The character is portrayed by [[Matt Damon]] and is widely regarded as one of the defining action heroes of the 2000s.
* '''Jason Morgan''' — a long-running character on the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] [[soap opera]] ''[[General Hospital]]'', one of the most enduring daytime television characters bearing the name.

=== Music ===

* '''[[Jason Derulo]]''' (born 1989) — American singer, songwriter, and dancer known for numerous top-charting singles including "Whatcha Say" and "Talk Dirty."
* '''[[Jason Mraz]]''' (born 1977) — American singer-songwriter known for the song "I'm Yours," one of the longest-charting singles in [[Billboard Hot 100]] history.
* '''[[Jason Isbell]]''' (born 1979) — American singer-songwriter and guitarist, widely regarded as one of the leading figures in contemporary [[Americana music|Americana]] and [[country music]].

=== Sports ===

* '''[[Jason Kidd]]''' (born 1973) — American professional [[basketball]] player and coach, a [[Basketball Hall of Fame|Hall of Famer]] widely regarded as one of the greatest [[point guard]]s in [[NBA]] history.
* '''[[Jason Day]]''' (born 1987) — Australian professional [[golf]]er and former [[world number one]].
* '''[[Jason Pierre-Paul]]''' (born 1989) — American professional [[American football|football]] player and [[NFL]] veteran.

=== Literature ===

* '''Jason''' appears as a character name in numerous novels, plays, and works of fiction, particularly those drawing on classical mythology. The figure of Jason from Greek myth has been adapted and reinterpreted by authors from [[Euripides]]' ''[[Medea (Euripides)|Medea]]'' in antiquity to modern retellings.

== Characteristics and Associations ==

Jason is widely associated with:

* Heroism and adventure, rooted in the mythological legacy of [[Jason and the Argonauts]]
* Healing and health, from the name's Greek etymological meaning
* The [[baby boomer]] and [[Generation X]] generations, for whom the name was at peak popularity
* A strong, classic, and masculine character that has kept it in continuous use across generations

== See Also ==

* [[Jason (mythology)]]
* [[Argonauts]]
* [[Golden Fleece]]
* [[Jason Voorhees]]
* [[Jason Bourne]]
* [[List of most popular given names]]

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

== External Links ==

* [https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/ Social Security Administration — Popular Baby Names]
* [https://nameberry.com/babyname/Jason Nameberry — Jason]

[[Category:English given names]]
[[Category:Masculine given names]]
[[Category:Names of Ancient Greek origin]]
[[Category:Names from Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Biblical given names]]

Jason - Revision history

Baby Name Wiki at 22:52, 18 April 2026