Jakai Unisex

Popularity: #544 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: jah-KAI //dʒəˈkaɪ//

Origin: Hebrew; African American

Meaning: Hebrew: God will establish; African American: a modern name with no specific meaning

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Jakai is believed to be a modern variant of the name Jakai, which has roots in Hebrew. The Hebrew name Ya'akov, meaning "supplanter" or "holder of the heel," is the original form from which many variations have emerged.

This name was translated into Greek as Iakobos and subsequently into Latin as Jacobus. The name Jacob has been widely used in various forms across cultures, including the Old French Jacques, which influenced the English form Jacob.

The transition to Jakai likely reflects contemporary naming trends that favor unique spellings and phonetic variations. Historically, the name Jacob is significant in biblical texts, notably as the name of the patriarch who was the son of Isaac and the grandson of Abraham, a key figure in the Hebrew Bible.

Jacob's story, including his struggle with an angel and his twelve sons who became the progenitors of the twelve tribes of Israel, has been a source of cultural and religious significance since ancient times. The name has been borne by numerous saints and historical figures, contributing to its enduring legacy.

Culturally, names derived from Jacob often symbolize resilience and transformation, reflecting the biblical narrative of Jacob's life. The name has been associated with themes of struggle and triumph, making it a powerful choice in various traditions.

Variants such as Jake and Jacoby have also emerged, showcasing the name's adaptability across different languages and cultures. The evolution of Jakai represents a continuation of this rich historical tapestry, embodying both traditional roots and modern influences.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Jakai, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Jakai was first seen in the United States in 1994.

Jakai has ranked as high as #943 nationally, which occurred in 2024, and has been most popular in Florida, New York, Georgia, California, and North Carolina.

In the past 5 years the name Jakai has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Jakai is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Jakai was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Jakai (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

State Births Share
FL 54
14%
TX 34
9%
GA 26
7%
NC 25
7%
CA 21
6%
OH 16
4%
PA 15
4%
SC 15
4%
IL 15
4%
AL 14
4%
LA 14
4%
NY 14
4%
WI 14
4%
MO 13
3%
VA 13
3%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Jakai.

YearBirths
2024426
2023363
2022312
2021244
2020183
2019163
2018155
2017124
2016119
2015130
2014107
201390
201294
2011120
201096
2009122
200884
200798
200683
200597
200464
200367
200260
200129
200024
199920
199817
199723
19967
19956
19947