Jacek

♂ Boy

Pronounced YAH-tsek /ˈjɑː.tsɛk/High

Meaning: Jacek is the Polish form of Hyacinth (Latin Hyacinthus, Greek Hyakinthos) — the flower of Greek myth said to have sprung from the blood of a beloved youth. Poland's Saint Hyacinth, Jacek Odrowaz, made the name a national favorite.Medium

In 30 seconds: Jacek is the Polish Hyacinth (said 'YAH-tsek') — a flower name of Greek myth, carried by Poland's own saint.

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Origin HighPolish, Greek

MeaningJacek is the Polish form of Hyacinth (Latin Hyacinthus, Greek Hyakinthos) — the flower of Greek myth said to have sprung from the blood of a beloved youth. Poland's Saint Hyacinth, Jacek Odrowaz, made the name a national favorite.

U.S. rank (2024)#13004 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2013

Total births (all-time)≈ 527

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Jacek descends from Greek Hyakinthos through Latin Hyacinthus — the flower name of an ancient myth. Poland took it as its own through Saint Jacek Odrowaz, a thirteenth-century Dominican missionary, and it has been a steady Polish favorite ever since (said 'YAH-tsek').

In the U.S. it is rare, carried by Polish American families. Rare here, classic in Poland, and floral at heart.

Did you know? In Greek myth the hyacinth flower sprang from the blood of the youth Hyakinthos. In Poland the name became Jacek, borne by Saint Hyacinth, one of the country's great medieval figures (said 'YAH-tsek').

Overall data confidence 60%

References — Jacek — Polish form of Hyacinth; Saint Jacek Odrowaz

Variations

HyacinthJacentyJasiek

Nicknames

JacusJas

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Jacek…

Kacper— a like Polish classic

Marek— another two-beat Polish name

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Lukasz— a like Polish saint's name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Jacek mean?

Jacek is the Polish form of Hyacinth, from the Greek flower name Hyakinthos.

How do you pronounce Jacek?

It's said YAH-tsek /ˈjɑː.tsɛk/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Jacek a boy or girl name?

Jacek is a boy's name.

How popular is Jacek?

Jacek is rare in the U.S. but a long-standing classic in Poland.