Where does the name Jordan come from?

Jordan is a unisex name of Hebrew origin.

Is Jordan a boy or a girl name?

Jordan is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 25% of children given the name Jordan are girls and 75% are boys.

How popular is the name Jordan in 2023?

Jordan ranks #498 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1990 with 22,094 babies.

How do you pronounce Jordan?

Jordan is pronounced JOR-dan (2 syllables).

What are common spellings of Jordan?

Jordan is also written as Jordon, Jorden, Jordyn.

A name from Hebrew · Unisex

Jordan

From the Hebrew yarad ('to flow down, descend'), the name of the river running through the Holy Land. Originally given to children baptised in water brought back from the river by Crusaders.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 143-year arc in numbers.

529,659 U.S. births recorded from 1880–2023.

Popularity · 1880–2023

4,272 births in 2023

1880 1951 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

JFrom the Hebrew yarad ('to flow down, descend'), the name of the river running through the Holy Land. Originally given to children baptised in water brought back from the river by Crusaders.

Variants & spellings

3 ways to spell "Jordan".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Jordon Most common Jorden Jordyn

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Jordan.

J
Michael Jordan (basketball legend)
J
Jordan Peterson (psychologist)
J
Jordan Peele (filmmaker)

Quick answers

People often ask about Jordan.

What does the name Jordan mean?: Jordan means from the Hebrew yarad ('to flow down, descend'), the name of the river running through the Holy Land. Originally given to children baptised in water brought back from the river by Crusaders.
Where does the name Jordan come from?: Jordan is a unisex name of Hebrew origin.
Is Jordan a boy or a girl name?: Jordan is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 25% of children given the name Jordan are girls and 75% are boys.
How popular is the name Jordan in 2023?: Jordan ranks #498 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1990 with 22,094 babies.
How do you pronounce Jordan?: Jordan is pronounced JOR-dan (2 syllables).
What are common spellings of Jordan?: Jordan is also written as Jordon, Jorden, Jordyn.

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About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.