Holding steady.
Popularity of Jaques since 1977
Babies named Jaques per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 20 |
| 1990s | 126 |
| 2000s | 123 |
| 2010s | 27 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Jaques is a rare given name in the United States, first recorded by the Social Security Administration in 1977. Its highest usage occurred in 2001, when it saw its peak year. The name has remained stable in its rarity since then, with no top state concentration as usage is scattered. As a variant of Jacques, it carries the connotation of elegance and literary heritage, notably associated with the melancholy Jaques from Shakespeare's 'As You Like It.' Despite its low frequency, it offers a distinctive choice for parents seeking a name with a classic French root and a unique spelling.
Jaques is the French spelling of Jacques, which itself derives from the Latin Iacobus, from the Greek Iakobos, and ultimately from the Hebrew Ya'aqov (Jacob). The name entered English through the French influence after the Norman Conquest, but the spelling Jaques is particularly associated with the character in Shakespeare's 'As You Like It' (1599). The name has been used in English-speaking countries since the 16th century, though it remains less common than the standard Jacques spelling.
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Jaques
Names that share Jaques's style, for a brother or sister.
