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Jake

♂ Boy

Pronounced JAYK /dʒeɪk/High

Meaning: Medieval English short form of Jacob or John; Jacob derives from Hebrew 'Yaakov' meaning 'supplanter' (one who trips up the heel); John derives from Hebrew 'Yochanan' meaning 'God is gracious'High

In 30 seconds: Jake is a cool, no-nonsense short form of Jacob and Jack with deep Hebrew roots. Uncomplicated and likable, it has been a go-to name for boys who want something familiar yet lively.
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Origin HighHebrew, English
MeaningMedieval English short form of Jacob or John; Jacob derives from Hebrew 'Yaakov' meaning 'supplanter' (one who trips up the heel); John derives from Hebrew 'Yochanan' meaning 'God is gracious'
U.S. rank (2025)#457 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births682 boys (0.04% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2004
Total births (all-time)≈ 129,321

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200418802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Jake is a medieval English short form of Jacob (Hebrew Yaakov, meaning 'supplanter' or 'one who grabs the heel') and also functions as a variant of Jack, itself a pet form of John (Hebrew Yochanan, meaning 'God is gracious'). Jake developed as an independent name in English-speaking countries from at least the 16th century.

Jake gained strong standing as an independent given name in the United States during the 20th century. It has been consistently popular — neither too formal nor too casual — fitting within the American tradition of friendly, punchy single-syllable names. It ranked in the U.S. top 100 for boys during the 1990s and 2000s.

Did you know? Jake has long functioned as American slang for 'fine' or 'satisfactory' — as in 'everything's jake' — a phrase popular in the 1920s, adding an old-school cool-guy dimension to this already popular name.
Overall data confidence 90%
Behind the Name — Jake — etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

JacobJackJace

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Jake Gyllenhaal (1980–present)
    American actor known for Brokeback Mountain, Nightcrawler, and other films

If you like Jake…

Jack— shares the same short, punchy Anglo-American boys' name tradition
Luke— another crisp single-syllable biblical-derived name with wide appeal
Chase— shares the one-syllable action energy and the same era of peak popularity
Cole— equally short and confident with the same understated strength

Frequently Asked

What does Jake mean?

Jake is a short form of Jacob, from Hebrew Yaakov meaning 'supplanter' or 'one who grabs the heel.' It also has ties to John via the name Jack.

How do you pronounce Jake?

Jake is a single syllable pronounced JAYK /dʒeɪk/.

Is Jake a nickname or a given name?

Jake began as a nickname for Jacob and Jack, but is now widely used as a standalone given name in its own right.

Is Jake a popular boys' name?

Yes. Jake ranked in the U.S. top 100 boys' names during the 1990s and 2000s and remains a popular, friendly choice today.