Namebino · Girl names · Boy names
Boy's name · #43 in the US (2025) · 90s wave
Jacob was #1 back in 1999, spent 14 years as America's #1 name, and stands at #43 today. About 988,000 boys have carried it since 1880.
After years of decline, US births of Jacob rose from 21,204 in 2009 to 22,157 in 2010, the year after The Twilight Saga: New Moon featured the werewolf Jacob Black. Births fell again in 2011.
See where Jacob is more common.
Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 51 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.
Jacob is especially popular in Philippines.
#6 in Philippines (2024) · #25 in Puerto Rico (2025) · #27 in N. Ireland (2025) · #41 in England & Wales (2025) · #42 in Australia (NSW) (2025) · #45 in Scotland (2025) · #59 in Norway (2025) · #62 in Ireland (2025) · #76 in Australia (VIC) (2025) · #85 in New Zealand (2025) · #126 in Sweden (2025) · #135 in Ecuador (2025) and 8 more.
Among 5,627 notable people named Jacob:
Business leaders appear 2.53× more often than among typical names — e.g. Jacob Rothschild, 4th Baron Rothschild, English peer, investment banker and philanthropist (1936–2024).
Popular twin pairings with Jacob include Joshua, Joseph, and Lucas for boys, and Emma, Abigail, and Olivia for girls.
About 8,900 boys a year are given Jack as their full name and 790 Jake.
Similar names: Jake · Alexander · Jackson · Nicholas · Joshua · Gabriel
Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.