Jakob
Boy name · #1374 in 2025 · Uniqueness 81/100
Jakob ranks #1374 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 135 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #525, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 13,333 boys born in 2025 was named Jakob.
The 68-year story
Jakob first appears in the Social Security records in 1957, when 7 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2001, when 2,192 boys were named Jakob — good for #172 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Jakob per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Jakob against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Jakob in class?
Jakob scores 81 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Jakob will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Jakob is most common
Geography matters for names, and Jakob is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Jakobs were CA (17), FL (9), TX (9), NY (8), PA (7). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Jakob
Statistically, parents drawn to Jakob tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Javon, Jaylon, Jaylin, Kolby, and Isiah.
JavonJaylonJaylinKolbyIsiahJadonJobJaycob
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Jakob | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 135 | #1370 |
| 2024 | 191 | #1119 |
| 2023 | 189 | #1118 |
| 2022 | 227 | #991 |
| 2021 | 281 | #845 |
| 2020 | 256 | #882 |
| 2019 | 312 | #759 |
| 2018 | 344 | #703 |
| 2017 | 404 | #638 |
| 2016 | 476 | #581 |
| 2015 | 548 | #525 |
| 2014 | 645 | #458 |
| 2013 | 711 | #415 |
| 2012 | 742 | #395 |
| 2011 | 910 | #334 |
| 2010 | 1,097 | #298 |
| 2009 | 989 | #324 |
| 2008 | 1,083 | #308 |
| 2007 | 1,108 | #303 |
| 2006 | 1,158 | #293 |
| 2005 | 1,215 | #275 |
| 2004 | 1,416 | #235 |
| 2003 | 1,607 | #218 |
| 2002 | 1,836 | #203 |
| 2001 | 2,192 | #172 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Jakob a popular boy name?
Jakob ranked #1374 among boys in 2025 with 135 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #525.
When was the name Jakob most popular?
Jakob peaked in 2001, when 2,192 American boys received the name (ranked #172 that year). Since 2001 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Jakob?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 13,333 newborn American boys was named Jakob. It scores 81/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.