Jakob is a distinctive choice, ranked #1402 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Jakob in their class.
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UK Rank 2024
#1402
US Rank #988
About the Name Jakob
Jakob has seen a notable decline in recent years, dropping 581 places in five years. It was most popular in 2000 at #287 — parents choosing it today are making a deliberately counter-trend decision. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Jakob is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it ranks even higher at #988, where it enjoys a particularly strong following.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Jakob
Unlikely. With around 19 UK babies named Jakob per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Jakob in his class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Jakob has been declining in UK popularity, dropping 581 places in the last five years. Its peak was #287 in 2000. Choosing it now means he is likely to be among the last of his generation with this name.
Jakob is more popular in the US (#988) than in the UK (#1402). Names with strong rankings in both countries tend to have broad cross-cultural appeal, working well for international families or those with ties to both nations.
Notable people named Jakob include: Jakob Stausholm — Jakob Stausholm is a Danish businessman and was the chief executive of Rio Tinto Group from January 2021 until August 2025.; Jakob Ingebrigtsen — Jakob Asserson Ingebrigtsen is a Norwegian middle- and long-distance runner who is the world record holder in the short track 1500 metres, short track mile,...; Jakob Poulsen — Jakob Bendix Uhd Poulsen is a Danish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder and current head coach of Danish Superliga club AGF..
Jakob does not appear in the US top 1,000 baby names, making it a distinctively British choice — your child is unlikely to encounter American Jakobs in the wild.
19
UK babies named Jakob (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↓ 581 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Jakob
Likely around 1 other Jakob in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2022)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Jakob
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Jakob Stausholm is a Danish businessman and was the chief executive of Rio Tinto Group from January 2021 until August 2025. He is now a fellow at the University of Oxford.
Jakob Asserson Ingebrigtsen is a Norwegian middle- and long-distance runner who is the world record holder in the short track 1500 metres, short track mile, 2000 metres, 3000 metres, and two miles. Ingebrigtsen won gold medals in the 1500 metres at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and in the 5000 metres at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Jakob Bendix Uhd Poulsen is a Danish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder and current head coach of Danish Superliga club AGF. Poulsen started his senior career with Esbjerg fB, before moving to Dutch side SC Heerenveen in 2006.
Jakob James Markus Nowell is an American musician based in Southern California. He was a founding member of the band LAW, and was their vocalist until his departure in 2021.