Declining since 1998, #43 for boys today.
Popularity of Jacob since 1880
Babies named Jacob per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 3,566 |
| 1890s | 2,551 |
| 1900s | 2,191 |
| 1910s | 8,684 |
| 1920s | 9,047 |
| 1930s | 5,264 |
| 1940s | 4,853 |
| 1950s | 5,400 |
| 1960s | 5,075 |
| 1970s | 36,351 |
| 1980s | 124,254 |
| 1990s | 298,415 |
| 2000s | 274,077 |
| 2010s | 163,321 |
| 2020s | 45,178 |
Meaning & origin
No boys' name owned the turn of the millennium like Jacob. Its share of American births peaked in 1998, and beginning in 1999 it held the number-one national ranking for fourteen consecutive years, through 2012, one of the longest unbroken reigns in the federal record. An entire generation's classrooms, rosters, and yearbooks testify to it.
The slide since has been the orderly kind that follows saturation rather than scandal: in 2025 Jacob ranked 43rd, given to about 1 in 278 newborn boys. Names that fall from number one rarely disappear; they settle into the broad middle of the charts as their bearers grow up, and Jacob is following that script almost exactly.
Its strongest states: Wyoming, the District of Columbia, and Rhode Island, form no meaningful region, which fits a name this thoroughly national. With four thousand years of history, a patriarch at its root, and James as its historical twin, Jacob's long-term standing looks secure regardless of where the ranking drifts next.
Jacob comes from the Hebrew Ya'aqov, the name of the patriarch who fathered the twelve tribes of Israel. Genesis links the name to the Hebrew aqev, "heel," because Jacob was born grasping his twin Esau's heel, and by extension to the sense "supplanter"; many modern scholars instead see it as a short form of a fuller name meaning "may God protect." Through Late Latin Iacobus the name produced both Jacob and, via the variant Iacomus, James, making the two names historical twins. In English use Jacob was long the form favored in Jewish communities and among Puritans, and it was common in 19th-century America before ebbing at mid-century. Its late-century resurgence carried it to number one for boys every year from 1999 through 2012.
Read more: Jacob on Wikipedia
Where Jacob is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Jacob” around the world
Where Jacob lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
140
babies in 2024
Ireland
#62
in 2025
New Zealand
#83
in 2025
Quebec
#12
in 2025
Australia (NSW)
#42
in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec) · NSW Registry of BDM (Australia (NSW)).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Jake, Jay, Coby
Famous people named Jacob
- Jacob Grimm · German philologist and folklorist, elder of the Brothers Grimm
- Jacob Riis · journalist and social reformer, author of How the Other Half Lives
- Jacob Lawrence · American painter known for the Migration Series
- Jacob Elordi · Australian actor
Sibling names for Jacob
Names that share Jacob's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Emily, Hannah, Sarah, Abigail, Rachel, Abby, Allison, Alyson, Alyssa, Aubrey, Debora, Emely, Emilee, Leah, Miriam, Rachael, Rebekah, Abagail, Abigayle, Aliza, Bailee, Cassy, Chana, Dina, Emmalee, Ester, Hadassah, Haleigh, Hanah, Hanna, Kyleigh, Madyson, Mikaela, Racheal, Renesmee, Aaryn, Abbigale, Abbigayle, Abbygail, Abigael, Abygail, Allisson, Amiee, Angelee, Caylie, Cloe, Delila, Devora, Elisheva, Emiley, Issabella, Izabelle, Jackelin, Kaily, Leeah, Magen, Makaila, Maryah, Meriam, Michayla, Micheala, Myriah, Niomi, Rachal, Rachell, Raechel, Rebbecca, Rebeccah, Rebeka, Rebekka, Rebekkah, Sarrah, Tamarah, Yocheved, Abbagail, Abbygale, Abegail, Abi, Abigaile, Abigal, Adamary, Aimie, Aleasha, Amma, Analyn, Angeleah, Annali, Avamarie, Bethani, Betsabe, Betzabeth, Danah, Dannah, Debborah, Emmily, Emylee, Gabrianna, Jakeline, Jessia, Joshlynn, Mical, Mikhaila, Miryam, Mykaela, Naiomi, Noami, Rahel, Rebbeca, Renesmae, Rivkah, Ruchy, Rut, Ruthy, Sarha, Serah, Shoshanna, Sophee, Sophya, Abagael, Abagayle, Abigayl, Abrie, Abygale, Becka, Channah, Debbora, Deboraha, Emmalie, Essica, Haidy, Hava, Jakelyn, Kaity, Katelen, Linsy, Mckala, Micala, Michaila, Mozel, Natilie, Natlie, Rabecca, Rechel, Renesme, Sheina, Shoshanah, Kaylaann, Sarahmarie, Abbagayle, Abbigal, Abbye, Abygayle, Alisen, Annaliz, Ariannie, Aseneth, Avagail, Becci, Bekah, Bekka, Bellanie, Charna, Chloeann, Danielys, Hagar, Hager, Jackelynn, Jhoselin, Judithe, Jullia, Leahanna, Mayreli, Megon, Micalah, Mikhayla, Naome, Rahcel, Rebacca, Rebakah, Rebeckah, Reveca, Sarahlynn
Brothers: Joshua, Matthew, Zachary, Caleb, Nathan, Abraham, Israel, Issac, Nathanael, Seth, Abram, Enos, Gerson, Hershel, Hyman, Isadore, Jacory, Jessee, Job, Josh, Mordechai, Mose, Nathen, Omer, Reuben, Saul, Shimon, Zackary, Abran, Aharon, Ahron, Benjaman, Benjiman, Danniel, Esau, Hershell, Hyrum, Isac, Isacc, Ishmael, Isreal, Izaac, Japheth, Jasson, Jerad, Joshuah, Jospeh, Levy, Meyer, Nathon, Salomon, Sholom, Soloman, Zach, Zakery, Abie, Abrahm, Avram, Benjamyn, Benyamin, Calob, Chrystian, Danel, Eliab, Esaw, Eythan, Herchel, Hershal, Hurshel, Isrrael, Issak, Janathan, Jeison, Jerremy, Johnatan, Joshuwa, Kaileb, Kalub, Laban, Mandel, Nephi, Nickalas, Nickalus, Shaul, Zacharey, Zachry, Zebulun, Banjamin, Berman, Elieser, Hersel, Hershall, Ishmail, Ishmeal, Izac, Jabes, Jaremy, Jasan, Jefry, Johsua, Joshau, Joshaua, Jousha, Kalieb, Lehi, Matthan, Naithan, Nichalas, Nickalaus, Phares, Samul, Shlome, Simuel, Tymothy, Zaccary, Zachrey, Zackry, Isack, Issaac, Kaelob, Abba, Abrham, Adriaan, Amdrew, Amram, Baruch, Benjerman, Dabid, Danuel, Danyl, Dvid, Esaul, Isaack, Ishmel, Izacc, Jaecion, Jermery, Joseh, Joshia, Joshus, Josuha, Jusitn, Kahleb, Kaylub, Mathhew, Mikle, Noach, Nussen, Pinches, Solly, Solmon, Tylerjames, Zacharee
Names like Jacob
Names whose popularity has moved with Jacob's over the last 50 years.
