NameCensus.

UK name, mostly girls

Jazz

An English given name derived from the musical style of jazz.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 114 boys.

Jazz is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Jazz popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5581, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 17 births.

This profile covers 131 England and Wales registrations across 23 recorded years from 1996 to 2021. 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 18% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 130 living people in the UK are called Jazz. 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 2022 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Jazz ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1996, when 17 girls were registered as Jazz.
  • Jazz is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 130 living people in the UK are estimated to have Jazz as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 53.5% of Jazz registrations are for girls.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5581

2021

Births in 2021

3

Latest year

Peak year

1996

17 births

Estimated living

130

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Jazz

In England and Wales birth records, Jazz has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 46.5% of registrations are for boys and 53.5% 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.

47% boys
53% girls
Boys114 (46.5%)Girls131 (53.5%)

Jazz registered for boys

  • Ranked #4,107 in 2023
  • 4 boys registered in 2023
  • Peak: 1999 (14 births)

Jazz registered for girls

  • Ranked #5,581 in 2021
  • 3 girls registered in 2021
  • Peak: 1996 (17 births)

Meaning

What does Jazz mean?

The name Jazz is believed to have originated from the African American culture in the early 20th century. It is likely derived from the musical genre of jazz, which has its roots in African and African American musical traditions. The term "jazz" itself is thought to have origins in various slang terms from the early 20th century.

Jazz as a given name was initially used as a nickname or shortened form of names like Jasmine or Jazmyn. However, over time, it gained popularity as a standalone name, reflecting the cultural significance of jazz music in African American communities.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Jazz was Jazz Gillum, an American blues harmonica player and singer, born in 1904. Another notable figure was Jazz Gillum, a blues singer and guitarist who was active in the 1920s and 1930s.

In the literary world, Jazz Morrison, an African American novelist, and poet, born in 1931, is known for her works exploring the African American experience. Her novel "Jazz" was published in 1992 and is considered one of her most celebrated works.

Jazz Raycole, an American actress and model, born in 1981, is another prominent individual with the name. She has appeared in several television shows and films, including "My Wife and Kids" and "The Game."

Jazz Jennings, born in 2000, is a transgender rights activist and author. She gained public attention for being one of the youngest people to be identified as transgender and has been an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and education.

While the name Jazz originated within the African American community, it has since gained popularity across various cultures and ethnicities, reflecting the global appeal and influence of jazz music.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Jazz over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Jazz in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Jazz, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 17 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
07132026199620092023

Decades

Jazz by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Jazz 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
2020s #5581 3 1
2010s #4858 36 9
2000s #3414 49 9
1990s #1743 43 4

Related

Names similar to Jazz

FAQ

Jazz: questions and answers

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

In 2021, Jazz was ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Jazz most popular?

The peak year on record was 1996, with 17 babies registered as Jazz in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Jazz?

An English given name derived from the musical style of jazz.

How many people are called Jazz in the UK?

A total of 131 babies have been registered as Jazz across the 23 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.