Given name
Jazz
“refers to the style of music”
Jazz is used as a given name. One American interpretation is “refers to the style of music.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One American interpretation is “refers to the style of music.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is American.
How it developed
In English usage, Jazz is a diminutive of James. In English usage, Jazz is a diminutive of Jasmine.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1983. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Jazz is a diminutive of James. The history of James gives this family its wider story. James was borne by two New Testament disciples: James son of Zebedee and James son of Alphaeus. James later became a recurring Scottish royal name: James VI of Scotland took the English throne in 1603. After James II lost that throne in 1688, his family’s supporters became known as Jacobites, drawing on the Latin form of James.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Jazz through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,555
- 933 boys · 622 girls
- Most popular year
- 1994
- 63 babies
- 2025
- 47
- #3,341 for boys · #8,579 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −3%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 35 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 3,341 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 33.7% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 37 in 1994. It also appeared in 12 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, New York had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (5). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,023 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Jazz’s family of names
In English usage, Jazz is a diminutive of James. In English usage, Jazz has a related form in JAS. In English usage, Jazz is a diminutive of Jasmine.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 13
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Jamesfull form · English
- Jasperfull form · English
- Jasminefull form · English
- Jazminefull form · French
- Jazevariant
- Jazvariant · English
- Jasvariant · English
- Jazzievariant
Show 5 moreShow fewer
See also 4
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Jazz
- Jazz JenningsAmerican transgender Internet personalityborn 2000
- Lil TracyAmerican rapper, singer, and songwriterborn 1995
- Jazz Chisholm Jr.Bahamian baseball playerborn 1998
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Jazz, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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