Jakob
Boy name · #1374 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Jakob? In official American birth records, Jakob has been tracked continuously since 1957, giving it 68 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Jakob against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Jakob in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Jakob is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". 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
State-level data for Jakob is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
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
How old is the name Jakob?
In official American birth records, the name Jakob first appeared in 1957 (over 68 years ago), when 7 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 68 years.
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. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.