The nameJake
Jake is a short form of Jacob, also used for John. It was very popular in England and Wales in the 1990s and 2000s.
- Boy's name
- English
Meaning
Jake comes from Jacob, from the Hebrew Ya'aqov. In Genesis, Jacob is born holding the heel (aqev) of his twin brother Esau, hence the traditional meaning "he who holds the heel" or "supplanter". It is also read as "may God protect".
Origin
English, from a short form of Jacob used in England since the Middle Ages, sometimes also for John.
History
Jake became a name in its own right in the 20th century. In England and Wales it was 18th in 1996 and reached 15th place in 2006. In the United States it was in the top 100 around 2000. The boxer Jake LaMotta, whose life inspired the film Raging Bull (1980), and actor Jake Gyllenhaal are among its best-known bearers.
Did you know?
- The life of the boxer Jake LaMotta inspired Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull.
Famous people named Jake
- Jake Gyllenhaal, actor
- Jake Bugg, singer
- Jake Paul, boxer and YouTuber
- Jake LaMotta, boxer
Popularity of the name Jake
Jake in the United States
Jake was most popular in the United States in the 2000s, with 39,904 births over the decade, 31% of all recorded babies named Jake. Its rise began around 1977, and it peaked in 2004. Half of all babies named Jake in the United States were born before 2000. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 864 births a year on average, against 1,514 in the five years before.
Jake in the United Kingdom
Jake was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 33,359 births over the decade, 49% of all recorded babies named Jake. Half of all babies named Jake in the United Kingdom were born before 2006, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 419 births a year on average, against 1,104 in the five years before.
Jake in Ireland
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Jake
Names from the same generation as Jake, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Jake? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Jake with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Jake side by side with the name of your choice.
Jake in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Jake mean?
Jake comes from Jacob, from the Hebrew Ya'aqov. In Genesis, Jacob is born holding the heel (aqev) of his twin brother Esau, hence the traditional meaning "he who holds the heel" or "supplanter". It is also read as "may God protect".
What is the origin of the name Jake?
English, from a short form of Jacob used in England since the Middle Ages, sometimes also for John.
Is Jake a girl's or a boy's name?
Jake is a boy's name.
How popular is the name Jake?
In 2024, Jake was the 422nd most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 743 births.
What are the variants of the name Jake?
Variants and related names of Jake include Jacob.
What are good sibling names for Jake?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Vanessa, Faith, Hailey and Molly for a sister, Andy, Edgar, Johnny and Mario for a brother.
Who are famous people named Jake?
Jake Gyllenhaal, actor; Jake Bugg, singer; Jake Paul, boxer and YouTuber; Jake LaMotta, boxer.