# Why are there so many captains named "Jack"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 14, 2016, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-captains-named-jack/757350 "2016-06-14T14:47:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2016, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-captains-named-jack/757350/1 "2016-06-14T14:47:42Z")
It occurred to me recently that there seems to be a disproportionate number of people named “Jack” who hold the rank or title of “captain”. Captain Jack Sparrow - Pirates of the Caribbean Captain Jack Harkness - Doctor Who / Torchwood Captain Jack Aubrey - Master & Commander Captain John “Calico Jack” Rackham - Black Sails / real life Captain Jonathan “Black Jack” Randall - Outlander and of course Captain Jack Will Get You High Tonight - Billy Joel song Any particular reason other than it’s sounds cooler than “Captain Steve”? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2016, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-captains-named-jack/757350/2 "2016-06-14T14:54:54Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Any particular reason other than it’s sounds cooler than “Captain Steve”? You gotta admit that “Jack” leaves you in no doubt of the character’s _maniless_. 🆒 Same reason Gene Roddenberry chose the name “Spock”: One syllable, ends with “-ck,” sounds strong. Hell, even a President of the United States was known as “Jack.” Can’t imagine him being called anything else. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2016, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-captains-named-jack/757350/3 "2016-06-14T14:57:28Z")
Maybe because Jack is a nickname for John, and John is an extremely common name. Aside from Sparrow and the reference to the Billy Joel song (which refers to Jack Daniel’s, whose founder is actually named Jasper) I’m not familiar with your other examples. Is their given name John? Also, think of all the captains who aren’t named Jack: Capt. Steubing Capt. Kangaroo Capt. Kirk Capt. Caveman Cap’n Crunch In the tradition of the SDMB I’m going to helpfully declare that you’re suffering from confirmation bias. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2016, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-captains-named-jack/757350/4 "2016-06-14T14:59:21Z")
On the other hand, there was a whole slew of “Steves” in the late '60s–early '70s: Steve McGarrett, Steve Austin, and (I’m sure) others. Quoting _ **MAD Magazine** _: “Let’s call the boy [in this TV show] **Steve** —sounds more **American**! Can’t afford to offend the American Legion!” ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2016, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-captains-named-jack/757350/5 "2016-06-14T15:01:35Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Capt. Steubing > Capt. Kangaroo > Capt. Kirk > Capt. Caveman > Cap’n Crunch You left out the most important one: Capt. Spaulding. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2016, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-captains-named-jack/757350/6 "2016-06-14T15:34:27Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > You left out the most important one: Capt. Spaulding. 😃 And Capt. (Merrill) Stubing. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2016, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-captains-named-jack/757350/7 "2016-06-14T15:49:49Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Maybe because Jack is a nickname for John, and John is an extremely common name. Aside from Sparrow and the reference to the Billy Joel song (which refers to Jack Daniel’s, whose founder is actually named Jasper) I’m not familiar with your other examples. Is their given name John? Also, think of all the captains who aren’t named Jack: > > Capt. Steubing > Capt. Kangaroo > Capt. Kirk > Capt. Caveman > Cap’n Crunch > > In the tradition of the SDMB I’m going to helpfully declare that you’re suffering from confirmation bias. But there’s only one of each of those. Before you can claim confirmation bias you need to find numerous examples of well-known Captain Bobs, numerous examples of well-known Captain Franks, etc., fictitious or real. And given name doesn’t enter into it. It’s what the person or character is commonly called. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2016, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-captains-named-jack/757350/8 "2016-06-14T15:56:50Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > And Capt. (Merrill) Stubing. Huh? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2016, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-captains-named-jack/757350/9 "2016-06-14T16:00:02Z")
\*Your sister’s gone out. She’s on a date And you just sit at home and masturbate Your phone is gonna ring soon but you just can’t wait For that call So you stand on the corner in your New English clothes And you look so polished from your hair down to your toes Ahh, but still your finger’s gonna pick your nose After all But Captain Jack will get you high tonight And take you to your special island Captain Jack will get you by tonight Just a little push and you’ll be smilin’\* 😃 ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2016, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-captains-named-jack/757350/10 "2016-06-14T16:06:46Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Huh? 😕 Of the Pacific Princess (A.K.A “Love Boat”) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2016, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-captains-named-jack/757350/11 "2016-06-14T16:13:48Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Of the Pacific Princess (A.K.A “Love Boat”) Aha! :smack: You must realize, however, that I never watched a single episode of that series. But yes, I do know it starred Gavin MacLeod, and I can even sing the theme song!\* Goes to show just how pathetic my life is. ☹ \*But my “Huh?” was actually a reaction to the claim that Steubing was not listed, when clearly he was. Or is there something else I’m missing here? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2016, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-captains-named-jack/757350/12 "2016-06-14T16:17:48Z")
I also knew there was a token black dude on board! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2016, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-captains-named-jack/757350/13 "2016-06-14T16:17:55Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > On the other hand, there was a whole slew of “Steves” in the late '60s–early '70s: Steve McGarrett, Steve Austin, and (I’m sure) others. Quoting _ **MAD Magazine** _: “Let’s call the boy [in this TV show] **Steve** —sounds more **American**! Can’t afford to offend the American Legion!” Steve Rogers AKA “Captain America” I think “Jack” is also a common placeholder name in British culture (Jack the Ripper, Spring Heeled Jack), and a lot of these captains are British. A “Jack Tar” was also an olde tymy slang term for a sailor in the Royal Navy. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2016, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-captains-named-jack/757350/14 "2016-06-14T16:26:38Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Maybe because Jack is a nickname for John, and John is an extremely common name. Aside from Sparrow and the reference to the Billy Joel song (which refers to Jack Daniel’s, whose founder is actually named Jasper) I’m not familiar with your other examples. Is their given name John? Also, think of all the captains who aren’t named Jack: > > Capt. Steubing > Capt. Kangaroo > Capt. Kirk > Capt. Caveman > Cap’n Crunch > > In the tradition of the SDMB I’m going to helpfully declare that you’re suffering from confirmation bias. > [@terentii](#): > > You left out the most important one: Capt. Spaulding. 😃 > [@Telemark](#): > > And Capt. (Merrill) Stubing. So apparently, a name beginning with a ‘k’ or ‘s’ sound is necessary if not “Jack”? > [@msmith537](#): > > I think “Jack” is also a common placeholder name in British culture (Jack the Ripper, Spring Heeled Jack), and a lot of these captains are British. A “Jack Tar” was also an olde tymy slang term for a sailor in the Royal Navy. There’s also Jack-o-lantern. Overall, Jack is a popular name in cinema. Jack Reacher, Jack Bauer, Jack Torrance, Jack Skellington, etc. Possibly due to a positive feedback system that started with the British items above. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2016, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-captains-named-jack/757350/15 "2016-06-14T16:49:17Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > […] the reference to the Billy Joel song (which refers to Jack Daniel’s […] [Nope](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Jack_(Billy_Joel_song)). > [@](#): > > Joel wrote “Captain Jack” in late 1971, while sitting in his apartment in Oyster Bay, Long Island, looking out the window, trying to find inspiration for a song. Across the street was a housing project, and he observed suburban teenagers going into the project and obtaining heroin from a dealer known as “Captain Jack”. […] > > The song, according to Joel, is an anti-drug song. He says, “What’s so horrible about an affluent young white teenager’s life that he’s got to shoot heroin? It’s really a song about what I consider to be a pathetic loser kind of lifestyle. I’ve been accused of, ‘Oh, this song promotes drug use and masturbation.’ No, no, no. Listen to the song. This guy is a loser.” Besides which, the lyric _"Just a little push and you’ll be smilin’ "_ definitely seems more appropriate for heroin than for booze. I don’t know of any reason to associate Billy Joel’s “Captain Jack” with Jack Daniel’s whiskey, even if another explanation of the name than the one Joel himself gave were needed. Jack Daniel AFAIK was never known as “Captain Jack”, and AFAIK the whiskey’s never called that either. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2016, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-captains-named-jack/757350/16 "2016-06-14T16:51:46Z")
It starts innocuously. You’re just trying to be friendly when he walks by, saying “hi Jack!” and all of the sudden he’s taken over your vessel. And then what? Once he’s on the boat, it’s extremely difficult to remove him. It’s like I always say “better to have Jack on, then Jack off.” Now I will say that pointing a cannon at him can sometimes be an effective ploy. Just cupping two balls can help Jack off. And getting him away from the starboard side works wonders, as too much port will really speed things along. A lubricated Jack is a fast Jack. Off the side he’ll go! A word of caution though. You don’t want Jack off near the poop deck. How can you stop that? Dunno. Tain’t easy. But the bottom line is this: it doesn’t matter how many seamen it takes, forcing jack off can be an exhausting endeavor. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2016, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-captains-named-jack/757350/17 "2016-06-14T16:55:39Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > So apparently, a name beginning with a ‘k’ or ‘s’ sound is necessary if not “Jack”? How about Captain (Archibald) Haddock of Tintin fame, Captain Steve Rogers (Captain America, as **msmith** noted), Captain John Paul Jones (a John but AFAICT not a Jack), and Captain Horatio Hornblower? Confirmation bias is rife in this type of speculation but I’m not convinced the OP is on to anything. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2016, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-captains-named-jack/757350/18 "2016-06-14T16:55:48Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > But the bottom line is this: it doesn’t matter how many seamen it takes, forcing jack off can be an exhausting endeavor. Huh-huh! Huh-huh! You said “seamen.” Huh-huh! That wuz cool! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2016, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-captains-named-jack/757350/19 "2016-06-14T16:57:55Z")
The way I heard it, “Hooray for Captain Spaulding!” was actually a tribute to a doctor who kept the Hollywood crowd supplied with drugs in the '20s and '30s! :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2016, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-captains-named-jack/757350/20 "2016-06-14T17:04:11Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > I think “Jack” is also a common placeholder name in British culture (Jack the Ripper, Spring Heeled Jack), and a lot of these captains are British. Aye; that’s my thought is that both “John” and “Jack” are British-ly used as Everymans, hence the term for a prostitute’s customer being “a john”, “jack-of-all-trades”, etc. And I think that happened because there were so damned many of them. I bet John accounts for a sizably large percentage of all male names to this day, in fact. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-captains-named-jack/757350.md?page=2)