Fun Facts About the Name Juniper
- Gaining ground: Juniper entered the U.S. top 100 in 2025, gaining 11 ranking positions compared with the previous year.
- More than 22 thousand babies named Juniper: U.S. records list 22,098 babies given the name Juniper from 1880 through 2025. Even 261 boys received the name Juniper - about 1 boy for every 84 girls.
What Does the Name Juniper Mean?
Juniper is an English given name taken from the common name of the juniper, an aromatic evergreen shrub or tree. The plant name comes from Latin juniperus, the classical Latin word for the juniper. The ultimate origin of juniperus is uncertain. One traditional explanation derives it from Latin juvenis, 'young,' and parere, 'to bring forth,' giving a sense such as 'youth-producing,' but that derivation is not securely established. The name is therefore a plant name rather than a translation of a separate personal name with a phrase meaning. Later symbolic readings of the juniper as a sign of protection, purity, or renewal are associations of the plant, not part of the name's etymology.
Juniper Name History & Origins
The English word juniper comes from Latin juniperus by way of Old French genevre and into Middle English. Its use as a personal name comes from that plant name rather than from a saint's name or a biblical figure. A notable religious bearer is Blessed Juniper, an Italian Franciscan friar of the 13th century and a companion of St. Francis of Assisi; his name is the Italian Ginepro, from the Italian word for the juniper plant. The Spanish form Junípero was borne by Saint Junípero Serra (1713 - 1784), the Franciscan missionary who founded missions in California. In modern English, Juniper is used as a given name, most often for girls, while the Italian and Spanish religious forms are masculine.
The Brothers Grimm fairy tale The Juniper Tree is named for the tree in the story, not for a character called Juniper; it is a literary use of the plant name rather than the origin of the personal name. In some English Bible translations, 'juniper' appears for the Hebrew rotem, a plant more often identified as the broom tree, but this is a translation of a plant name and not a personal name.
How Popular is the Name Juniper?
Juniper recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2025. Juniper entered the top 100 U.S. girl names in 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #100 | 2,618 | 0.1629% |
| 2024 | #111 | 2,441 | 0.1513% |
| 2023 | #113 | 2,391 | 0.1492% |
| 2022 | #113 | 2,499 | 0.1525% |
| 2021 | #137 | 2,004 | 0.1222% |
| 2020 | #171 | 1,675 | 0.1037% |
| 2019 | #193 | 1,546 | 0.0922% |
| 2018 | #281 | 1,185 | 0.0697% |
| 2017 | #310 | 1,049 | 0.0608% |
| 2016 | #349 | 957 | 0.0540% |
| 2015 | #427 | 745 | 0.0417% |
| 2014 | #488 | 644 | 0.0361% |
| 2013 | #638 | 441 | 0.0251% |
| 2012 | #875 | 305 | 0.0173% |
| 2011 | #954 | 269 | 0.0153% |
| 2010 | #1,147 | 213 | 0.0120% |
| 2009 | #1,392 | 170 | 0.0093% |
| 2008 | #1,953 | 108 | 0.0057% |
| 2007 | #2,378 | 80 | 0.0042% |
| 2006 | #2,494 | 74 | 0.0039% |
| 2005 | #3,189 | 49 | 0.0027% |
| 2004 | #4,218 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 2003 | #4,257 | 31 | 0.0017% |
| 2002 | #4,028 | 32 | 0.0018% |
| 2001 | #6,178 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2000 | #5,061 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1999 | #7,010 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1998 | #6,195 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1997 | #6,634 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1996 | #8,459 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1995 | #9,991 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1994 | #11,078 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1992 | #14,261 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #7,888 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1984 | #9,650 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1982 | #7,136 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1980 | #7,041 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1979 | #6,964 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1978 | #6,618 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1977 | #3,814 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1976 | #4,037 | 16 | 0.0011% |
| 1975 | #4,236 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1974 | #3,042 | 23 | 0.0016% |
| 1973 | #6,323 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1972 | #6,211 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1971 | #4,662 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1970 | #6,633 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1969 | #7,967 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,894 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 2024 | #3,180 | 38 | 0.0022% |
| 2023 | #3,665 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 2022 | #3,303 | 36 | 0.0021% |
| 2021 | #4,304 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 2020 | #4,622 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2019 | #4,550 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2018 | #6,523 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2017 | #10,205 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2016 | #11,401 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2015 | #6,505 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2014 | #8,454 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2013 | #9,207 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2012 | #13,202 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Juniper
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
Rising Favorite Girl Names
Recent Favorite Girl Names
Explore More Lists with Name Juniper
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with J
How the Name Juniper Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are honest, benevolent, brilliant and often inventive, full of high inspirations. You are courageous, honest, determined, original and creative. You are a leader, especially for a cause. Sometimes you do not care to finish what you start, and may leave details to others. You can do well in position of authority, and prospers in intellectual and professional fields. Emergencies may raise your intuitive abilities in order to resolve conflict or situation. You become very creative under the pressure, and have quite original ideas to make the best out of it.
Creative and outgoing, you are always looking for an opportunity to show your abilities, especially before audience. You are very flexible and like to feel appreciated. You are looking for chances to mix with others socially and to communicate your ideas. You like to talk and can easily relate to different cultures and concepts. The biggest challenge for you is uncertainty. Easily getting bored, you can move from one job to another, switch projects and lovers. The high creative force can lead you either to happiness or unhappiness. If you understand your goals, if you can make major decisions in life and follow it directly and straight up without worry and uncertainty, you are able to achieve great heights.
✦ Juniper's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Juniper's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.