Jakob
How to say it: JAY-kub · /ˈdʒeɪkəb/
German/Scandinavian spelling of Jacob; from Hebrew 'Yaakov' meaning 'supplanter' or 'he who follows at the heel'.
Jakob was the 46th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 135 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 2000s, its births are down about 62% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #96 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #46 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 135 |
| Share of births | 1 in 517 |
| Peak decade | 2000s |
| Change over 10 years | −62% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #96 |
| In France, 2025 | #293 among boys’ names, 5 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
At its highest in the 2000s, Jakob has grown rarer since. Now far below that peak, it looks set to slip further in the next few years.
What goes with it
Crisp consonants give its two syllables a strong biblical edge that travels well. Jake makes a natural short form, while Lukas shares its rhythm.
Nicknames
- Jake
- Jaki
Honouring a Jakob in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Jakob is about 1 in 22.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Norwegian, Swedish.
In France: #293 for boys in 2025.
Famous people named Jakob
- Jakob Böhme (1575–1624)German Christian mystic and theologian
- Jakob Asserson Ingebrigtsen (born 2000)Norwegian middle- and long-distance runner
- Jakob Wassermann (1873–1934)German writer
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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