Jordan is a unisex given name of Hebrew origin. It means "flowing down" or "descending," referring to the River Jordan, which plays a significant role in Jewish and Christian traditions. The river is mentioned numerous times in the Bible, most notably as the location where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist.
The name Jordan gained popularity among both boys and girls during the late 20th century. For boys, it reached its peak popularity in the United States in the mid-1980s, ranking within the top 100 baby boy names for several years. In recent years, it has remained a moderately popular choice for both genders.
Notable individuals named Jordan include:
* Jordan Belfort (born 1962), an American former stockbroker and author who inspired the film "The Wolf of Wall Street"
* Jordan Knight (born 1970), an American singer-songwriter, member of the boy band New Kids on the Block
* Jordan Catalano, a fictional character from the television series "My So-Called Life," played by Jared Leto
In popular culture, the name Jordan is often associated with athletic prowess, as it was worn by several prominent sports figures throughout history, such as basketball players Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. However, this connection does not seem to have significantly impacted the name's overall popularity or meaning.
In summary, Jordan is a Hebrew unisex given name that means "flowing down" or "descending," referring to the River Jordan. It has been popular for both boys and girls since the late 20th century and is associated with various notable individuals throughout history. Despite its athletic connotations in modern culture, the name's primary significance remains linked to its biblical origins.
The name Jordan experienced a significant increase in popularity over the second half of the twentieth century and into the twenty-first century. The first notable spike occurred between 1973 (with 16 births) and 1986 (with 2083 births), indicating that the name started gaining traction around this period. The peak happened in 1989 with a record 4281 births, after which the popularity of the name began to decline gradually but remained high for several years. From 2007 onwards, the number of annual Jordan births consistently fell below 3000, reaching its most recent low in 2022 and 2023 with 629 and 613 births respectively. Overall, a total of 134514 babies were named Jordan from 1950 to 2023.