Jarrett

About Jarrett

Jarrett is an English given name taken from a surname related to Garrett. Its history leads back to Gerald and Gerard, two Germanic names that share a spear element but have different endings. The modern spelling brings that older family into a compact, two-syllable name with connections to basketball and children's literature.

From Personal Name to Surname

Garrett developed as a surname from Gerald or Gerard, and Jarrett emerged as one of its variants. A fixed translation depends on which earlier name lies behind a particular family line.

Gerald combines elements meaning “spear” and “power” or “authority.” Gerard combines “spear” with an element meaning “hard,” “firm,” or “brave.” Both were introduced to Britain by the Normans, and their similar sounds encouraged overlap between their later forms.

Jarrett's j opening distinguishes it from Garrett in modern English. The final double t gives the written name a firm stop, while the unstressed second syllable keeps the spoken form brief. Jarret is a close spelling alternative; Gerald and Gerard are older relatives rather than expanded versions someone must use formally.

Jarrett Culver on the Basketball Court

Basketball player Jarrett Culver grew up in Lubbock, Texas, and played for Texas Tech. In the 2018–19 season he helped lead the Red Raiders to their first men's Final Four and to the national championship game.

Culver was named the Big 12 Player of the Year in 2019 and earned a place on the Final Four All-Tournament Team. His success at a university in his hometown made him one of the most prominent bearers of the spelling during that period of college basketball.

In his sophomore season, Culver led the team in scoring, rebounds, and assists, averaging 18.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. He contributed across those same areas during the NCAA tournament run.

Jarrett J. Krosoczka's Books

Author and illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka is known for books for young readers, including the Lunch Lady graphic novels. His graphic memoir Hey, Kiddo was a finalist for the 2018 National Book Award for Young People's Literature.

The memoir follows his childhood with his grandparents, his difficult relationship with his mother, and his development as an artist. Drawing becomes part of both the story he tells and the way he tells it. This literary connection adds a substantial modern association to the name beyond sports.

Pronunciation and Popularity

Jarrett is pronounced JARR-it or JERR-it, depending on the speaker's accent, with the stress on the first syllable. Both pronunciations begin with the j sound in “jam.” Garrett keeps a hard g, so the two forms remain distinct when spoken.

In United States records, Jarrett reached its largest annual total in 1998, with 1,020 boys and a rank of 282nd. The total remained close to that level in 2000, at 1,005 boys. It fell to 176 in 2010 and 57 in 2025, when it ranked 2,406th. Its American high point lies in the late 1990s.

How popular is Jarrett?

In 2025, Jarrett ranked #2,406 among boys in the United States, with 57 recorded uses. The U.S. birth records first list this spelling for boys in 1880; its largest annual count was 1,020 in 1998. Rankings count each spelling separately. They describe national use, so local familiarity can differ. The popularity chart shows whether the name has remained common, returned after a quieter period, or risen recently.