Name meaning & stats
Jordan
Jordan means “the Jordan river” (Hebrew origin). 534,378 US babies since 1940, peak 1990. Notable Jordans are 3.2× over-represented as basketball players.
What it means
“the Jordan river”
HebrewWell documented
From the river's name.
In US birth records
Peak year: 1990
534,378 US babies were named Jordan between 1940 and 2025.
Where Jordans end up
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Footballer | 2.6× | High · 184 people |
| Basketball player | 3.2× | High · 183 people |
| NFL-style footballer | 1.6× | High · 101 people |
| Actor | 1.1× | High · 68 people |
Among notable men who are basketball players, Jordans show up 3.2× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Jordan has a surprise career: 1.9×
Spelling family
Jordan is the main spelling
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1990)