NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Jojo

A diminutive of Joseph or Josephine, of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".

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 girls' name in the UK, with 35 girls.

Jojo is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Jojo popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3451, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 6 births.

This profile covers 37 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 1998 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 83% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 37 living people in the UK are called Jojo. 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

  • Jojo ranked #3451 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 5 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2009, when 6 boys were registered as Jojo.
  • Jojo is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 37 living people in the UK are estimated to have Jojo as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 51.4% of Jojo registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3451

2021

Births in 2021

5

Latest year

Peak year

2009

6 births

Estimated living

37

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Jojo

In England and Wales birth records, Jojo has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 51.4% of registrations are for boys and 48.6% 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.

51% boys
49% girls
Boys37 (51.4%)Girls35 (48.6%)

Jojo registered for boys

  • Ranked #3,451 in 2021
  • 5 boys registered in 2021
  • Peak: 2009 (6 births)

Jojo registered for girls

  • Ranked #3,899 in 2020
  • 5 girls registered in 2020
  • Peak: 2007 (7 births)

Meaning

What does Jojo mean?

The given name Jojo has its origins in the Italian language and culture. It is a diminutive form of the name Joseph, which is derived from the Hebrew name Yosef, meaning "he will add" or "he will increase." The name Joseph is found in the Bible and has been popular among Christians and Jews for centuries.

Jojo emerged as a nickname or shortened version of Joseph in Italy during the late Middle Ages or Renaissance period, around the 14th to 16th centuries. It was likely used as an affectionate or informal way to address someone named Joseph, particularly among family members or close friends.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Jojo can be found in the works of the Italian Renaissance poet and scholar Giovanni Boccaccio, who lived from 1313 to 1375. In his famous work, The Decameron, Boccaccio includes a character named Jojo, suggesting that the name was in use during that time period.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Jojo. One example is Jojo the Ricebowl Painter, a Japanese artist who lived in the late 16th to early 17th century and was known for his intricate and detailed ceramic rice bowl paintings.

Another famous Jojo was Jojo Benavides, a Mexican revolutionary and military leader who fought alongside Pancho Villa during the Mexican Revolution in the early 20th century. He was born in 1883 and died in 1942.

In the world of music, Jojo Benson was an American blues singer and guitarist who was active in the 1920s and 1930s. He was born in 1899 and is considered one of the pioneers of the Memphis blues style.

Jojo Rabbit, born Taika David Cohen in 1975, is a contemporary New Zealand filmmaker and actor best known for directing and starring in the 2019 satirical film Jojo Rabbit, for which he won an Academy Award.

Finally, Jojo Siwa, born in 2003, is an American dancer, singer, actress, and YouTube personality who rose to fame on the reality TV show Dance Moms and has since built a successful career aimed at a young audience.

These examples showcase the diverse backgrounds and eras in which the name Jojo has been used, spanning various cultures, regions, and fields of endeavor.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Jojo over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Jojo in England and Wales, from 1998 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Jojo, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2021, compared with 6 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
036811199820092021

Decades

Jojo by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Jojo 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 #3451 5 1
2010s #4312 15 4
2000s #3154 13 3
1990s #2419 4 1

Related

Names similar to Jojo

FAQ

Jojo: questions and answers

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

In 2021, Jojo was ranked #3451 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.

When was Jojo most popular?

The peak year on record was 2009, with 6 babies registered as Jojo in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Jojo?

A diminutive of Joseph or Josephine, of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".

How many people are called Jojo in the UK?

A total of 37 babies have been registered as Jojo 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.