Some names come from Latin, some names come from the Bible, and some names originate as surnames that simply mean "Son of Jack." The rise in popularity of this name is pretty outstanding. Hovering in the triple-digit placement of popular boys' names, Jackson suddenly became more and more popular. In the latest list from 2009, the name has reached its highest position: 25.
Why would a name with no historical meaning become suddenly popular? Well, actually there's no surprising answer here. A couple names their boy after a beloved deceased person, but choose to use the person's last name as their newborn's first name. The name catches on slowly, until it gets to the point where you simply can't miss it. Especially in African-American families, the name Jackson has become so popular, that people may be surprised to find it's only been a top-100 name in the last 10 years.
2010 Update:
No change. The name is still at 25.
