Jacob
Boy name · #43 in 2025 · Uniqueness 48/100
Jacob ranks #43 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 6,152 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #4, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 293 boys born in 2025 was named Jacob.
The 145-year story
Jacob first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 404 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1998, when 36,031 boys were named Jacob — good for #2 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Jacob per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Jacob against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Jacob in class?
Jacob scores 48 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Jacob is most common
Geography matters for names, and Jacob is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Jacobs were CA (744), TX (734), NY (631), FL (472), NJ (274). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Jacob
Statistically, parents drawn to Jacob tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Caleb, Dylan, Jose, Cameron, and Nathan.
CalebDylanJoseCameronNathanJordanJesusJoshua
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Jacob | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6,152 | #43 |
| 2024 | 6,541 | #40 |
| 2023 | 7,015 | #35 |
| 2022 | 7,667 | #32 |
| 2021 | 8,494 | #24 |
| 2020 | 9,309 | #15 |
| 2019 | 10,797 | #12 |
| 2018 | 11,897 | #13 |
| 2017 | 13,269 | #9 |
| 2016 | 14,559 | #7 |
| 2015 | 16,005 | #4 |
| 2014 | 16,923 | #4 |
| 2013 | 18,201 | #2 |
| 2012 | 19,110 | #1 |
| 2011 | 20,403 | #1 |
| 2010 | 22,157 | #1 |
| 2009 | 21,204 | #1 |
| 2008 | 22,621 | #1 |
| 2007 | 24,310 | #1 |
| 2006 | 24,871 | #1 |
| 2005 | 25,851 | #1 |
| 2004 | 27,911 | #1 |
| 2003 | 29,658 | #1 |
| 2002 | 30,586 | #1 |
| 2001 | 32,573 | #1 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Jacob a popular boy name?
Jacob ranked #43 among boys in 2025 with 6,152 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #4.
When was the name Jacob most popular?
Jacob peaked in 1998, when 36,031 American boys received the name (ranked #2 that year). Since 1998 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Jacob?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 293 newborn American boys was named Jacob. It scores 48/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.