Jakob
A male given name, equivalent to English Jacob.
Every Jakob since 1957 — 31,959 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Jakob
Jakob is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #1,372 in 2025 with 135 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1957, 31,959 American babies have been named Jakob. Its peak came in 2001, when 2,192 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2000s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Jakob stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Jakob year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 135 | #1,372 |
| 2024 | 191 | #1,121 |
| 2023 | 189 | #1,119 |
| 2022 | 227 | #991 |
| 2021 | 281 | #846 |
| 2020 | 256 | #884 |
| 2019 | 312 | #759 |
| 2018 | 344 | #703 |
| 2017 | 404 | #640 |
| 2016 | 476 | #581 |
| 2015 | 548 | #525 |
| 2014 | 645 | #458 |
| 2013 | 711 | #416 |
| 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 |
| 2000 | 2,161 | #173 |
| 1995 | 561 | #407 |
| 1990 | 306 | #578 |
| 1985 | 83 | #1,002 |
| 1980 | 78 | #1,028 |
| 1975 | 32 | #1,605 |
| 1970 | 6 | #4,466 |
| 1965 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Jakob
- Jakob Böhme Philosopher · 1575–1624
- Jakob Fugger Businessperson · 1459–1525
- Jakob Steiner Mathematician · 1796–1863
- Jakob von Uexküll Biologist · 1864–1944
- Jakob Wassermann Writer · 1873–1934
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Jakob mean?
A male given name, equivalent to English Jacob.
How popular is the name Jakob in 2025?
Jakob ranked #1,372 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 135 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Jakob?
31,959 babies have been named Jakob in the United States since 1957, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Jakob most popular?
Jakob peaked in 2001, when 2,192 newborns received the name.
Is Jakob a boy or girl name?
Jakob is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Jakob rising or falling?
Jakob is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Jakob?
Well-known people named Jakob include Jakob Böhme (philosopher), Jakob Fugger (businessperson), Jakob Steiner (mathematician).