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The short answer
Jade is a feminine name in current US use, taken from the name of the precious stone. Behind the Name explains that the word comes from Spanish (piedra de) ijada, meaning "(stone of the) flank", a reference to the old belief that jade could cure renal colic. As a given name it came into general use during the 1970s; Behind the Name says it was initially unisex but is now mostly feminine, and lists it as both feminine and masculine in English and French. It is pronounced JAYD in English and /ʒad/ in French. In the United States it ranked #95 for girls in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name gives Jade as "from the name of the precious stone that is often used in carvings", and traces the word itself to "Spanish (piedra de) ijada meaning '(stone of the) flank', relating to the belief that jade could cure renal colic". So the name means the gemstone, and the gemstone's name means something quite different from what most parents have in mind. Its history as a personal name is short: the entry says it "came into general use during the 1970s" and "was initially unisex, though it is now mostly feminine". Behind the Name lists Jada, Jaida, Jayda and Jayde as English variants and Giada as the Italian form.
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| English | jade | the precious stone |
| Spanish | (piedra de) ijada | (stone of the) flank |
Popularity
Jade ranked #95 for girls in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration). Behind the Name notes that the name only came into general use in the 1970s and has shifted from unisex to mostly feminine.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #95 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: None documented.
Variants: Jayde, Jada, Jaida, Jayda
Related names: Giada
What the name feels like
Jade is a one-syllable gemstone name with a hard, glossy sound to match the stone. It belongs with the small set of modern nature and gem names that feel sleek rather than frilly, and its brevity makes it a natural fit as a middle name as well as a first name.
Style tags: gemstone name, nature name, one syllable, modern, word name
Editorial interpretation: These style impressions are editorial judgment, not linguistic fact. Behind the Name lists no diminutives for Jade; the name is short enough that none is needed.
If you like this name
Names that share Jade's gem or nature theme, or its clipped one-syllable sound.
Similar by meaning
Similar by sound
Similar by style
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Jade mean?
Jade is the name of the precious stone. Behind the Name traces the word to Spanish (piedra de) ijada, "(stone of the) flank", from the belief that jade could cure renal colic.
Is Jade a girl's name or a boy's name?
Behind the Name lists Jade as both feminine and masculine and says it was initially unisex when it came into use in the 1970s, but that it is now mostly feminine. In the 2025 US data it appears only in the girls' top 1000, at #95.
Is Jade a popular name?
Yes. Jade ranked #95 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Jade — supports etymology, pronunciation, 1970s usage, gender usage, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
