Ja
Every Ja since 1957 — 441 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Ja
Ja is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #11,195 in 2025 with 6 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1957, 441 American babies have been named Ja — about 69% boys and 31% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2000, when 29 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2000s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Ja stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Ja year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 6 | #11,195 |
| 2024 | — | — | 8 | #9,354 |
| 2023 | — | — | 7 | #10,147 |
| 2022 | — | — | 15 | #5,975 |
| 2021 | — | — | — | — |
| 2020 | — | — | — | — |
| 2019 | — | — | — | — |
| 2018 | — | — | — | — |
| 2017 | — | — | — | — |
| 2016 | — | — | — | — |
| 2015 | — | — | — | — |
| 2014 | — | — | — | — |
| 2013 | — | — | — | — |
| 2012 | — | — | — | — |
| 2011 | — | — | 6 | #11,394 |
| 2010 | — | — | 5 | #13,024 |
| 2009 | — | — | — | — |
| 2008 | — | — | 5 | #13,313 |
| 2007 | 5 | #18,721 | — | — |
| 2006 | — | — | 7 | #9,983 |
| 2005 | 5 | #17,494 | 5 | #12,131 |
| 2004 | 6 | #14,862 | 12 | #6,285 |
| 2003 | 5 | #16,725 | 9 | #7,490 |
| 2002 | 6 | #14,280 | 10 | #6,731 |
| 2001 | 6 | #14,200 | 15 | #4,982 |
| 2000 | 14 | #7,316 | 15 | #4,885 |
| 1995 | 7 | #10,965 | 10 | #5,662 |
| 1990 | — | — | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — | 5 | #6,961 |
| 1980 | 6 | #9,513 | 7 | #5,170 |
| 1975 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Ja
- Jaú Soccer player · 1909–1988
- Ja Rule Singer · b. 1976
- Ja Morant Basketball player · b. 1999
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Ja in 2025?
Ja ranked #11,195 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 6 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Ja?
441 babies have been named Ja in the United States since 1957, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Ja most popular?
Ja peaked in 2000, when 29 newborns received the name.
Is Ja a boy or girl name?
Ja is used for both: about 31% of babies named Ja have been girls and 69% boys.
Is the name Ja rising or falling?
Ja is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Ja?
Well-known people named Ja include Jaú (soccer player), Ja Rule (singer), Ja Morant (basketball player).