NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Jaz

A unisex name of Arabic origin meaning "one who allures".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2012. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 25 girls.

Jaz is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Jaz popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2012 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4805, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 8 births.

This profile covers 44 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 1996 to 2012. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 38% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 44 living people in the UK are called Jaz. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2013 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Jaz ranked #4805 for boys in England and Wales in 2012, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1996, when 8 boys were registered as Jaz.
  • Jaz is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 44 living people in the UK are estimated to have Jaz as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 63.8% of Jaz registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4805

2012

Births in 2012

3

Latest year

Peak year

1996

8 births

Estimated living

44

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Jaz

In England and Wales birth records, Jaz has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 63.8% of registrations are for boys and 36.2% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

64% boys
36% girls
Boys44 (63.8%)Girls25 (36.2%)

Jaz registered for boys

  • Ranked #4,805 in 2012
  • 3 boys registered in 2012
  • Peak: 1996 (8 births)

Jaz registered for girls

  • Ranked #4,598 in 2004
  • 3 girls registered in 2004
  • Peak: 1999 (8 births)

Meaning

What does Jaz mean?

The name Jaz is believed to have its origins in the Arabic language. It is a variant of the name Jaziya, which means "tribute" or "reward." The name can be traced back to the 7th century, during the rise of Islam and the expansion of the Arab empires across the Middle East and North Africa.

In its earliest form, the name Jaziya was often used to refer to the tax or tribute paid by non-Muslim subjects living under Islamic rule. Over time, the name evolved and took on a more positive connotation, signifying a reward or blessing from God.

One of the earliest known historical references to the name Jaz can be found in the writings of the famous Arab philosopher and scholar, Al-Farabi, who lived from 872 to 950 CE. In his treatise on music theory, Al-Farabi mentions a musician named Jaz al-Mawsili, who was renowned for his skill in playing the lute.

Another notable figure in history bearing the name Jaz was Jaz ibn Muqatil, a 10th-century Arab poet and literary critic from Basra, Iraq. His works were highly regarded during his lifetime and contributed significantly to the development of Arabic literature.

In the 12th century, a prominent Islamic scholar and theologian named Jaz al-Din al-Qazwini was born in modern-day Iran. He is best known for his contributions to the fields of geography, astronomy, and Islamic jurisprudence.

During the Ottoman Empire, the name Jaz gained popularity among the ruling elite. One notable figure was Jaz Mustafa Pasha, a high-ranking Ottoman military commander who served in the early 17th century. He played a crucial role in several military campaigns and was renowned for his strategic acumen.

Another historical figure with the name Jaz was Jaz Bey, a prominent Mamluk leader in Egypt during the 15th century. He held influential positions within the Mamluk Sultanate and was known for his patronage of the arts and architecture.

While the name Jaz has its roots in the Arabic language and Islamic culture, it has since been adopted and adapted by various cultures around the world, often with slight variations in spelling or pronunciation.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Jaz over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Jaz in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2012. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Jaz, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2012, compared with 8 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
0471114199620042012

Decades

Jaz by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Jaz was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2010s #4742 6 2
2000s #2817 12 3
1990s #1740 26 4

Related

Names similar to Jaz

FAQ

Jaz: questions and answers

How popular is the name Jaz in the UK right now?

In 2012, Jaz was ranked #4805 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Jaz most popular?

The peak year on record was 1996, with 8 babies registered as Jaz in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Jaz?

A unisex name of Arabic origin meaning "one who allures".

How many people are called Jaz in the UK?

A total of 44 babies have been registered as Jaz across the 9 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.