Jake Boy

Popularity: #418 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: JAYK //dʒeɪk//

Origin: Hebrew; English

Meaning: Hebrew: Supplanter; English: Variant of Jacob

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Jake is derived from the Hebrew name Ya'aqov (יעקב), which means "supplanter" or "holder of the heel." This name appears in the Hebrew Bible, where Jacob, the son of Isaac and Rebecca, is a significant patriarchal figure. The name was later translated into Greek as Iakobos and subsequently into Latin as Jacobus.

The transition into Old French as Jacques occurred during the medieval period, which then influenced the English form of the name. The diminutive Jake emerged as a familiar or affectionate form of Jacob, particularly in English-speaking contexts.

Historically, the name Jacob has been prominent in various religious texts and traditions. In the Christian tradition, Jacob is recognized for his role in the Book of Genesis, where he is known for his dream of a ladder reaching to heaven and for wrestling with an angel.

This biblical narrative has been influential in both Jewish and Christian cultures, contributing to the name's enduring significance. The name Jacob was widely used in medieval Europe, especially after the popularity of saints named Jacob, such as Saint James, who is often associated with pilgrimage and devotion.

Culturally, the name Jake has been embraced in various literary and artistic works, often symbolizing resilience and determination, reflecting the qualities attributed to its biblical namesake. The name has also been used in folklore and popular culture, further embedding it in the social consciousness.

The evolution of Jake from its Hebrew roots through various linguistic transformations illustrates the name's adaptability and lasting appeal across different cultures and eras.

Famous people named Jake

In this section, you will find notable people named Jake. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Jake who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Jake who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Jake Gyllenhaal is an actor best known for Brokeback Mountain, Nightcrawler, and Donnie Darko.

Jake Paul is a social media personality and boxer best known for his YouTube channel, Disney Channel's Bizaardvark, and boxing matches.

Jake Arrieta is a professional baseball player best known for playing with the Chicago Cubs and winning the World Series.

Jake Owen is a country music singer best known for songs like Barefoot Blue Jean Night, Alone with You, and Beachin'.

Jake Tapper is a journalist and author best known for his work with CNN and the book The Outpost.

Fictional characters named Jake

The following list of fictional characters named Jake is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Jake Peralta is a fictional character from the TV series Brooklyn Nine-Nine. He is a talented but immature detective in the NYPD who often relies on his humor and creativity to solve cases.

Jake the Dog is a fictional character from the animated television series Adventure Time. He is a magical dog with the ability to stretch and shape-shift, serving as Finn's loyal companion and protector.

Sibling suggestions

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

LiamNoahMasonEthanAidenLucas

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Jake. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

JamesJackJaceJettJaxonJasperJadenJaydenJules

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Jake was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Jake has ranked as high as #171 nationally, which occurred in 2004, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Florida, and New Jersey.

In the past 5 years the name Jake has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Jake 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 Jake was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

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 Jake.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 682 682 0
2024 748 748 0
2023 782 782 0
2022 790 790 0
2021 969 969 0
2020 1,036 1,036 0
2019 1,175 1,175 0
2018 1,379 1,379 0
2017 1,503 1,503 0
2016 1,591 1,586 5
2015 1,922 1,922 0
2014 2,171 2,171 0
2013 2,450 2,450 0
2012 2,685 2,679 6
2011 3,110 3,110 0
2010 3,440 3,440 0
2009 3,396 3,386 10
2008 3,800 3,795 5
2007 3,882 3,882 0
2006 4,039 4,028 11
2005 4,153 4,153 0
2004 4,487 4,473 14
2003 4,416 4,406 10
2002 3,792 3,792 0
2001 3,844 3,838 6
2000 4,098 4,091 7
1999 3,943 3,936 7
1998 3,795 3,788 7
1997 3,849 3,840 9
1996 3,457 3,449 8
1995 3,518 3,509 9
1994 3,483 3,468 15
1993 3,205 3,197 8
1992 2,937 2,929 8
1991 2,779 2,772 7
1990 2,237 2,227 10
1989 1,964 1,964 0
1988 1,719 1,706 13
1987 1,647 1,639 8
1986 1,565 1,553 12
1985 1,076 1,071 5
1984 751 746 5
1983 771 771 0
1982 670 670 0
1981 595 595 0
1980 567 567 0
1979 495 495 0
1978 449 449 0
1977 450 445 5
1976 427 427 0
1975 334 334 0
1974 309 309 0
1973 314 314 0
1972 266 266 0
1971 176 176 0
1970 153 153 0
1969 138 138 0
1968 124 124 0
1967 104 104 0
1966 121 121 0
1965 144 144 0
1964 134 134 0
1963 154 154 0
1962 147 147 0
1961 166 166 0
1960 155 155 0
1959 147 147 0
1958 157 157 0
1957 154 154 0
1956 137 137 0
1955 141 141 0
1954 169 169 0
1953 163 163 0
1952 174 174 0
1951 179 179 0
1950 192 192 0
1949 185 185 0
1948 174 174 0
1947 187 187 0
1946 193 193 0
1945 165 165 0
1944 172 172 0
1943 159 159 0
1942 198 198 0
1941 190 190 0
1940 177 177 0
1939 184 184 0
1938 183 183 0
1937 172 172 0
1936 194 194 0
1935 179 179 0
1934 192 192 0
1933 199 199 0
1932 205 205 0
1931 214 214 0
1930 221 221 0
1929 245 245 0
1928 243 243 0
1927 272 272 0
1926 266 266 0
1925 306 306 0
1924 306 306 0
1923 330 330 0
1922 332 332 0
1921 360 360 0
1920 362 362 0
1919 334 334 0
1918 377 377 0
1917 306 299 7
1916 362 362 0
1915 355 355 0
1914 274 274 0
1913 227 227 0
1912 187 187 0
1911 110 110 0
1910 148 148 0
1909 109 109 0
1908 115 115 0
1907 117 117 0
1906 83 83 0
1905 92 92 0
1904 78 78 0
1903 93 93 0
1902 102 102 0
1901 79 79 0
1900 121 121 0
1899 76 76 0
1898 117 117 0
1897 102 102 0
1896 88 88 0
1895 91 91 0
1894 86 86 0
1893 66 66 0
1892 116 116 0
1891 78 78 0
1890 72 72 0
1889 107 107 0
1888 107 107 0
1887 90 90 0
1886 95 95 0
1885 100 100 0
1884 92 92 0
1883 96 96 0
1882 97 97 0
1881 92 92 0
1880 96 96 0

Top States for Jake (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
NY 84
12%
TX 82
12%
CA 79
11%
FL 56
8%
NJ 44
6%
PA 30
4%
MA 25
4%
IL 20
3%
NC 18
3%
MI 18
3%
TN 18
3%
VA 17
2%
LA 16
2%
IN 16
2%
MD 15
2%
OH 15
2%
GA 14
2%
UT 13
2%
MO 13
2%
CT 12
2%
OK 12
2%
AL 11
2%
AZ 11
2%
WA 11
2%
CO 11
2%
KY 10
1%
WI 7
1%
MS 6
1%
NV 6
1%
MN 6
1%
KS 5
1%
WV 5
1%