Jennings

At a Glance

Meaning

Son of Jenning ('little John')

Origin

English (patronymic surname)

Gender

Used for both boys and girls

Pronunciation

JEN-ingzListen

Jennings is an English surname that started out as a patronymic, meaning "son of Jenning" — itself a pet form of John, so the name traces back to "little John." It carries that lineage as a given name for a baby today, rooted in centuries of English naming tradition rather than a modern invention. If you're drawn to names with a clear, traceable origin, Jennings has one.

Meaning & Origin of Jennings

Meaning: Son of Jenning ('little John').

Origin: English (patronymic surname).

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Jennings

Popularity of Jennings

Jennings has been recorded in Social Security data going back to 1892, and it actually had its strongest showing early on, hitting rank #247 in 1897 with 50 babies given the name. It's far rarer now, sitting at rank #1957 in 2024 with only 80 babies — so while raw counts ticked up slightly, its relative popularity has fallen a long way from that 1897 peak.

Names Like Jennings

Names with a similar style, era, origin or popularity history.

• Nile
• Raleigh
• Basil
• Azalia
• Evans
• Edna

FAQ

What does the name Jennings mean?

Son of Jenning (‘little John’). (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Jennings?

Jennings is pronounced JEN-ingz (IPA: /ˈdʒɛnɪŋz/).

Is Jennings a popular name right now?

Jennings peaked at #247 in 1897 and is ranked #1957 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1892–2024.)

Make Jennings Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Jennings, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.