Home › Baby Names Directory › Jordan

Jordan

♂ Boy

Pronounced JOR-dun /ˈdʒɔːr.dən/High

Meaning: To flow down; to descend — from Hebrew Yarden, from yarad (to descend), the name of the Jordan RiverHigh

In 30 seconds: A Hebrew river name meaning 'to flow down,' Jordan was used by crusaders baptized in the Jordan River and became a given name. Its athletic fame via Michael Jordan made it a top-10 American name in the 1990s.

💕 Browse more names

Origin HighHebrew

MeaningTo flow down; to descend — from Hebrew Yarden, from yarad (to descend), the name of the Jordan River

U.S. rank (2025)#131 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births2,732 boys (0.16% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1990

Total births (all-time)≈ 401,147

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

Jordan comes from the Hebrew Yarden, meaning 'to descend' or 'to flow down,' the name of the river flowing from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea. Crusaders and medieval pilgrims spread the name through baptism.

Jordan became a unisex name in the late 20th century, used for both boys and girls. Michael Jordan's fame in the 1990s pushed it to a top-10 boys' name. It remains a solid choice for boys, currently ranking in the top 250.

Did you know? Medieval pilgrims and Crusaders were baptized in the Jordan River and brought back vials of the water to baptize their children, naming them Jordan in honor of the rite.

Variations

JordynJordin

Nicknames

Jordy

Famous Bearers

★Michael Jordan (1963–)
American professional basketball player, widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time.

If you like Jordan…

Tyler— 1990s athletic-era American surname name with the same peak popularity arc

Mason— modern American surname name with the same crossover unisex usage

Logan— Celtic surname name with the same 1990s-to-present chart staying power

Cameron— Scottish surname name with the same easy unisex American vibe

Explore names like Jordan

By meaningSea / Water

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Jordan mean?

Jordan comes from the Hebrew Yarden, meaning 'to flow down' or 'to descend,' the name of the river flowing to the Dead Sea.

How do you pronounce Jordan?

It is said JOR-dun /ˈdʒɔːr.dən/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Jordan a boy or girl name?

Jordan is used for both boys and girls, listed here as a boy's name.

How popular is Jordan?

Jordan was a top-10 U.S. boys' name in the 1990s and remains in the top 100.