Jake
Jake was the 457th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 682 babies. Its best year was 2000, when it ranked 96th; the most babies were born in 2004 (4,473). Over the last ten years it has moved down 250 places. More babies were named Jake in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning pet form of Jack (John) or Jacob · English, Hebrew
Say it JAYK /dʒeɪk/
- Rank in 2025
- #457 boys, down 137 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 682boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20044,473 babies
- Total since 1880
- 129,539babies recorded
What does the name Jake mean?
Jake began as a medieval variant of Jack, itself a pet form of John, and is now also used as a short form of Jacob and James. DMNES derives Jacob from Hebrew 'aqev, "heel", recalling Genesis, where Jacob is born holding his brother's heel; John is from Hebrew Yohanan, "God is gracious". Bardsley notes Jake and Jack as early nicknames behind the surname Jackson.
Jack (Middle English, “pet form of John”)יַעֲקֹב (Biblical Hebrew, “Jacob (linked to 'heel')”)
How sure is this? Well established. Jake is a pet form; its meaning is that of the name it shortens.
Related names: Jack, Jacob, John, Jakey.
See also: Hebrew names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Jake', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources (ed. S. L. Uckelman), Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Jacob', DMNES, Durham University
- Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (1901), s.v. 'Jackson', Henry Frowde (public domain; Internet Archive scan)
Jake popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 217 since 1917.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #457 | 682 |
| 2020 | #320 | 1,036 |
| 2010 | #115 | 3,440 |
| 2000 | #96 | 4,091 |
| 1990 | #140 | 2,227 |
| 1980 | #332 | 567 |
| 1970 | #662 | 153 |
| 1960 | #626 | 155 |
| 1950 | #485 | 192 |
| 1940 | #435 | 177 |
| 1930 | #382 | 221 |
| 1920 | #296 | 362 |
| 1910 | #184 | 148 |
| 1900 | #172 | 121 |
| 1890 | #188 | 72 |
| 1880 | #141 | 96 |
How popular is Jake, counting every spelling?
Jake has no other common spelling that sounds the same. Counting every name's spellings together, it ranks #452 for boys in 2025, against #457 on the official list.
How many kids will share the name Jake?
682 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Jake (0.19 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Jake born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 12 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Jake.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Jake?
About 114,300 people born in the US named Jake are alive today, with a median age of 24; half are between 17 and 32. That makes Jake mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Jake by state
How common Jake was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in New Jersey (2.7×), New York (2.3×), Connecticut (2.3×), Massachusetts (2.2×), Mississippi (1.6×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Oregon, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Jake: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Jake, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Jake · Sibling names for Jake
Jake is also a nickname for Jacob and Jakob.
Questions about the name Jake
What does Jake mean?
Jake means “pet form of Jack (John) or Jacob” (English, Hebrew origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Jake?
Jake was the 457th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 682 babies. Its best year was 2000, when it ranked 96th; the most babies were born in 2004 (4,473). Over the last ten years it has moved down 250 places. More babies were named Jake in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Jake a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Jake in the US.
Where is Jake most popular?
In 2021–2025, Jake was most common in New Jersey (1.25 per 1,000 boys), followed by New York and Connecticut.