Jasper: meaning and UK use

What does Jasper mean?

Jasper comes through Gaspar, possibly from a Hebrew word with an Old Persian source. The reference also records use for the gemstone, so not every family intends the same history.

Language or name family covered

Via Latin Gaspar; origin uncertain

Meaning or derivation

Possibly treasurer; also a gemstone name

Our browsing group

boy; vintage, nature

Browsing groups describe our editorial shortlist, not rules about who may use a name. A name can cross languages and genders.

Sources for this entry — reviewed 2026-10-07:

• Behind the Name — Jasper

Pronunciation and related forms

JAS-puh (British English)

English respellings are approximate; IPA is labelled where used. Follow the pronunciation a person or family chooses, and check it with a speaker of the intended language if that connection matters to you.

Related forms recorded in the reference: Caspar, Casper, Kasper. These may be full forms, diminutives or forms in another language; they are not necessarily pronounced alike or counted together in statistics.

How popular is Jasper?

In 2025, 802 baby boys in England and Wales were registered as Jasper, making it the 63rd most popular boys’ name. That is up 8 places on 2024, when it ranked 71st. Ten years earlier, in 2015, it ranked 104th, so it has climbed 41 places in a decade. 2025 is its highest ranking in the ONS series, which starts in 1996. These figures cover England and Wales, not the whole UK.

2025 rank (boys)

63rd

2025 registrations

802

Best rank in this series

63rd (2025)

Every year from 1996 to 2025

Jasper: rank and number of baby boys by year (ONS)

Year	Rank	Babies
2025	63	802
2024	71	739
2023	75	690
2022	78	725
2021	79	742
2020	78	727
2019	84	720
2018	89	708
2017	102	642
2016	98	683
2015	104	608
2014	107	570
2013	111	534
2012	129	482
2011	138	453
2010	152	389
2009	180	289
2008	196	241
2007	186	261
2006	202	216
2005	195	213
2004	212	175
2003	211	166
2002	224	140
2001	221	138
2000	239	124
1999	253	116
1998	263	106
1997	285	97
1996	284	94

The sum of published counts in this 1996–2025 boys series is 12,590. This is a lower bound where years are suppressed, not the number of living people with the name. A best rank is the best position within this series; it does not establish an all-time record.

Sources: ONS release, 2025; girls' dataset; boys' dataset. Our 20 top-ten positions were checked against Table 1 in the 2025 workbooks. The history chart and spelling comparisons come from the separate ONS 1996–2025 workbook, checked 7 October 2026. Spelling variants are separate entries. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate statistics.

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Names to compare with Jasper

These suggestions share a browsing group and one or more of our style tags or source-context labels. They are taste comparisons, not etymological relatives or a popularity ranking.

• Albievintage · A short form of Albert
• Alfievintage · A short form of Alfred
• Archievintage · A short form of Archibald
• Arthurvintage · Meaning unknown
• Cianvintage · Ancient or enduring
• Ezravintage · Help

Read the UK naming guide for the difference between inspiration lists and official statistics, or return to the full name finder.

Registering or changing the name

Once you decide on Jasper, confirm the registration process for your UK nation with the register office. If you later want to change a registered name, the route depends on the circumstances and may require consent from people with parental responsibility.

Start with GOV.UK birth registration or GOV.UK guidance on changing a child’s name. Our registration guide and child name-change guide explain where to find the relevant official process.