Declining since 2002, #8,910 for boys today.
Popularity of Jager since 1992
Babies named Jager per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 94 |
| 2000s | 259 |
| 2010s | 185 |
| 2020s | 72 |
Meaning & origin
Jager is a rare given name in the United States, first recorded in 1992. Its peak usage occurred in 2001, but since 2002 it has been declining in popularity. In 2025, it ranked 8,910, with only 1 in 213,510 newborns receiving the name. The name is a modern adaptation of the German surname Jäger, meaning 'hunter'. As a first name, it has no historical precedent and is best understood as part of the trend of using occupational surnames as given names. It has not been associated with any specific geographic concentration in the U.S., and its usage remains sparse and sporadic.
Jager is derived from the German word 'Jäger', meaning 'hunter'. It has been used as a German occupational surname for centuries. As a given name, it emerged in the United States in the late 20th century, likely influenced by surnames and the appeal of short, strong-sounding names. Its adoption as a first name is a modern phenomenon, with no deep historical use as a given name.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Jaeger, Jäger
Sibling names for Jager
Names that share Jager's style, for a brother or sister.
