Jo

#3,975 for girls in 2025, 36 births · #8,910 for boys in 2025, 8 births
Given to girls 99.0% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1947 · 6,724 births
Debut · girls
5 births
In top 100 · girls
26 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · girls
179,057
since 1881

Jo over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201936peak #51, 1947girls
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#3,97536#8,9108
2024#4,20734#7,25711
2023#3,38647#8,2559
2022#4,04136—
2021#3,61442—
2020#4,00535#8,7398
2019#4,16234—
2018#3,73940#10,7606
2017#3,76940#8,1409
2016#4,25034#9,6647
2015#4,98127—
2014#6,71318#10,7176
2013#7,74815—
2012#6,87218#7,05011
2011#8,19614#10,8086
2010#14,9596#9,6937
2009#7,06618—
2008#7,40817#9,8717
2007#7,09218#6,62212
2006#5,38325#9,5857
2005#6,82017—
2004#6,48918#7,5369
2003#4,41829#6,25811
2002#4,28029#5,72512
2001#4,32128#7,5368
2000#4,79124#5,04014
1999#2,93545#6,04210
1998#2,61452#6,8438
1997#2,30958#9,2655
1996#2,76044#6,4968
1995#2,28258#7,7926
1994#2,12464#8,8005
1993#2,19560#5,7719
1992#1,96570#4,87211
1991#1,91373#5,5219
1990#1,71685#7,1786
1989#1,57489#4,01713
1988#1,300111#7,2705
1987#1,128132#2,83818
1986#1,249109#5,3327
1985#925171#2,42721
1984#766210#3,10714
1983#770207#2,40820
1982#664267#2,51819
1981#547340#2,49619
1980#540349#2,72917
1979#589306#2,56818
1978#549323#2,20521
1977#507365#2,45818
1976#461417#2,94613
1975#391520#2,90213
1974#366587#3,31810
1973#332665#2,40516
1972#324722#2,08019
1971#299910#1,98721
1970#2721,103#1,65827
1969#2511,164#1,81021
1968#2261,325#2,9079
1967#2141,409#2,24213
1966#2001,590#1,96316
1965#1831,852#2,36612
1964#1842,052#1,65523
1963#1772,190#1,74421
1962#1672,449#1,45429
1961#1522,795#1,73122
1960#1343,371#1,24240
1959#1154,052#1,52227
1958#915,226#1,76620
1957#835,718#1,30036
1956#696,953#1,41830
1955#587,656#1,31333
1954#538,052#1,52525
1953#547,513#1,55124
1952#557,092#1,26834
1951#676,001#1,51924
1950#645,676#1,28931
1949#605,802#1,32230
1948#565,986#1,23134
1947#516,724#1,33630
1946#535,828#1,69218
1945#604,224#1,16332
1944#614,226#1,48321
1943#634,300#1,24031
1942#654,175#1,49622
1941#663,757#1,16932
1940#723,427#1,39723
1939#703,524#1,45821
1938#783,172#1,24728
1937#733,226#1,23329
1936#723,292#1,41722
1935#733,296#1,12334
1934#753,257#1,17332
1933#902,541#1,33025
1932#1032,388#1,71618
1931#1162,086#1,17034
1930#1311,871#1,19035
1929#1401,593#1,37827
1928#1791,168#1,64721
1927#203974#1,95917
1926#222815#2,43612
1925#264635#2,19314
1924#285534#2,34713
1923#334385#2,22414
1922#376302#2,34713
1921#417259#2,9869
1920#444231#1,50525
1919#437227#2,51111
1918#479199#2,07315
1917#561145#3,2177
1916#538152#2,38911
1915#570128#2,45810
1914#550103#3,2645
1913#53889#1,9459
1912#59168—
1911#67641#1,5376
1910#67240—
1909#60841—
1908#54646—
1907#64933—
1906#61134—
1905#60034—
1904#68226—
1903#60729—
1902#66725—
1901#74719—
1900#74224—
1899#79117—
1898#82117—
1897#78616—
1896#70720—
1895#98611—
1894#78215—
1893#1,0239—
1892#83013—
1891#69515—
1890#1,0997—
1889#80211—
1888#1,0367—
1887#1,1475—
1886#60614—
1885#65811—
1884#8517—
1883#6519—
1882——
1881#8305—
1880——
First appearance
1881

The first year at least five girls were named Jo! It came in at #830, and was given to 5 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1881–1882, when fewer than 6 girls a year got the name.

Where Jo is popular in 1936

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Jo, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 girls named Jo, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Jo, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Jo, so not publishedNHWashington: #62 for girls · 39 births · 1 in 241 girlsWAIdaho: #58 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 209 girlsIDMontana: #64 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 229 girlsMTNorth Dakota: #148 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 699 girlsNDMinnesota: #138 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 828 girlsMNIllinois: #85 for girls · 136 births · 1 in 372 girlsILWisconsin: #137 for girls · 26 births · 1 in 874 girlsWIMichigan: #110 for girls · 71 births · 1 in 546 girlsMINew York: #218 for girls · 47 births · 1 in 1,743 girlsNYMassachusetts: #256 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 3,404 girlsMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Jo, so not publishedRIOregon: #72 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 285 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Jo, so not publishedNVWyoming: #46 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 154 girlsWYSouth Dakota: #99 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 425 girlsSDIowa: #75 for girls · 55 births · 1 in 338 girlsIAIndiana: #68 for girls · 74 births · 1 in 313 girlsINOhio: #67 for girls · 169 births · 1 in 278 girlsOHPennsylvania: #159 for girls · 69 births · 1 in 1,030 girlsPANew Jersey: #239 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 2,351 girlsNJConnecticut: #178 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 1,319 girlsCTCalifornia: #76 for girls · 108 births · 1 in 341 girlsCAUtah: #70 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 253 girlsUTColorado: #41 for girls · 42 births · 1 in 188 girlsCONebraska: #52 for girls · 44 births · 1 in 222 girlsNEMissouri: #43 for girls · 139 births · 1 in 186 girlsMOKentucky: #34 for girls · 154 births · 1 in 167 girlsKYWest Virginia: #30 for girls · 137 births · 1 in 134 girlsWVVirginia: #73 for girls · 74 births · 1 in 307 girlsVAMaryland: #129 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 654 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Jo, so not publishedDEArizona: #77 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 266 girlsAZNew Mexico: #81 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 270 girlsNMKansas: #35 for girls · 80 births · 1 in 155 girlsKSArkansas: #28 for girls · 119 births · 1 in 145 girlsARTennessee: #28 for girls · 192 births · 1 in 138 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #49 for girls · 157 births · 1 in 227 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #78 for girls · 64 births · 1 in 312 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #75 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 317 girlsDCOklahoma: #28 for girls · 142 births · 1 in 141 girlsOKLouisiana: #52 for girls · 96 births · 1 in 213 girlsLAMississippi: #58 for girls · 90 births · 1 in 237 girlsMSAlabama: #39 for girls · 144 births · 1 in 197 girlsALGeorgia: #73 for girls · 97 births · 1 in 303 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Jo, so not publishedHITexas: #20 for girls · 439 births · 1 in 125 girlsTXFlorida: #46 for girls · 55 births · 1 in 229 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Texas#20 · 1 in 125
  2. Tennessee#28 · 1 in 138
  3. Oklahoma#28 · 1 in 141
  4. Arkansas#28 · 1 in 145
  5. West Virginia#30 · 1 in 134

Best ever in a state: #16 in Texas, 1935.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Texas#204391 in 125
Arkansas#281191 in 145
Oklahoma#281421 in 141
Tennessee#281921 in 138
West Virginia#301371 in 134
Kentucky#341541 in 167
Kansas#35801 in 155
Alabama#391441 in 197
Colorado#41421 in 188
Missouri#431391 in 186
Florida#46551 in 229
Wyoming#46101 in 154
North Carolina#491571 in 227
Louisiana#52961 in 213
Nebraska#52441 in 222
Idaho#58181 in 209
Mississippi#58901 in 237
Washington#62391 in 241
Montana#64171 in 229
Ohio#671691 in 278
Indiana#68741 in 313
Utah#70181 in 253
Oregon#72191 in 285
Georgia#73971 in 303
Virginia#73741 in 307
District of Columbia#75141 in 317
Iowa#75551 in 338
California#761081 in 341
Arizona#77151 in 266
South Carolina#78641 in 312
New Mexico#81181 in 270
Illinois#851361 in 372
South Dakota#99121 in 425
Michigan#110711 in 546
Maryland#129171 in 654
Wisconsin#137261 in 874
Minnesota#138241 in 828
North Dakota#14881 in 699
Pennsylvania#159691 in 1,030
Connecticut#17871 in 1,319
New York#218471 in 1,743
New Jersey#239101 in 2,351
Massachusetts#25681 in 3,404
Alaska———
Delaware———
Hawaii———
Maine———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
Rhode Island———
Vermont———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Jo
Momentum · girls
Holding steady
  • 232 spots since 2024 (#4,207 → #3,975)
  • 30 spots since 2020 (#4,005 → #3,975)
  • 1,006 spots since 2015 (#4,981 → #3,975)
  • Biggest jump: 404 spots in 1891 (#1,099 → #695)
  • Biggest drop: 541 spots in 1887 (#606 → #1,147)
Rise & fade · girls
66 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1881
  • Peaked 1947 at #51 (6,724 births)
  • Births halved by 1961, 14 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 100 for 26 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 26 yrs · run 1933–1958
  • Top 1,000: 100 yrs · run 1894–1985
Share of babies · girls
1 in 241
  • Highest: 1 in 241 girls born in 1954 were named Jo (0.41%)
  • Latest: 1 in 44,646 girls born in 2025 (0.00%)
  • Its best rank, #51 in 1947, was only 1 in 264 (0.38%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · girls
The 1950s
  • 35.7% of all girls named Jo (63,939) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s69#606 (1886)#823
1890s140#695 (1891)#852
1900s311#546 (1908)#646
1910s1,192#437 (1919)#561
1920s6,896#140 (1929)#286
1930s28,653#70 (1939)#88
1940s48,449#51 (1947)#61
1950s63,939#53 (1954)#71
1960s20,197#134 (1960)#189
1970s5,918#272 (1970)#409
1980s1,985#540 (1980)#946
1990s609#1,716 (1990)#2,281
2000s223#4,280 (2002)#5,807
2010s246#3,739 (2018)#6,539
2020s230#3,386 (2023)#3,871

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Jo in 1936

girls
#72
3,292 births · 1 in 316 girls
boys
#1,417
22 births · 1 in 47,146 boys

Top girls' names in 1936

  1. #1Mary54,377
  2. #2Shirley35,161
  3. #3Barbara31,682
  4. #4Betty25,868
  5. #5Patricia23,916
  6. #6Dorothy17,666
  7. #7Joan17,072
  8. #8Nancy16,755
  9. #9Margaret14,596
  10. #10Carol14,520
  11. #72Jo3,292

Top boys' names in 1936

  1. #1Robert58,500
  2. #2James54,694
  3. #3John47,683
  4. #4William39,398
  5. #5Richard33,494
  6. #6Charles29,101
  7. #7Donald28,639
  8. #8Thomas18,342
  9. #9George18,197
  10. #10David17,476
  11. #1,417Jo22
More about 1936

girls

1,040,390 girls got a published name in 1936; 1 in 316 of them was named Jo, which outranked 98.5% of the 4,856 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.2% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Jo
  1. #69Rita3,334
  2. #70Loretta3,325
  3. #71Edna3,305
  4. #72Jo3,292
  5. #73Carole3,199
  6. #74Thelma3,196
  7. #75Juanita3,183
Biggest movers since 1935
Risers
  1. ↑ 3,238Shelba#3,742 → #504
  2. ↑ 662Shelby#840 → #178
  3. ↑ 600Wendy#1,418 → #818
  4. ↑ 588Deanna#1,356 → #768
  5. ↑ 546Shari#1,514 → #968
Fallers
  1. ↓ 1,028Norita#713 → #1,741
  2. ↓ 506Vernetta#974 → #1,480
  3. ↓ 461Ozella#984 → #1,445
  4. ↓ 400Shirleyann#896 → #1,296
  5. ↓ 342Idell#925 → #1,267

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,037,205 boys got a published name in 1936; 1 in 47,146 of them was named Jo, which outranked 64.9% of the 4,037 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.3% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Jo
  1. #1,384Stephan23
  2. #1,384Washington23
  3. #1,384Waverly23
  4. #1,417Jo22
  5. #1,417Alferd22
  6. #1,417Amador22
  7. #1,417Ancil22
  8. #1,463Ansel21
  9. #1,463Anson21
  10. #1,463Arnie21

Tied with 45 names at #1,417; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1935
Risers
  1. ↑ 802Errol#1,708 → #906
  2. ↑ 644Sergio#1,584 → #940
  3. ↑ 601Brice#1,494 → #893
  4. ↑ 537Windell#1,390 → #853
  5. ↑ 529Kim#1,390 → #861
Fallers
  1. ↓ 1,082Stafford#980 → #2,062
  2. ↓ 889Darwyn#750 → #1,639
  3. ↓ 461Hunter#956 → #1,417
  4. ↓ 399Orvil#844 → #1,243
  5. ↓ 370Rosendo#956 → #1,326

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1936 →