
The short answer
Jake is a masculine name used in English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "Medieval variant of Jack. It is also sometimes used as a short form of Jacob." It ranked #457 for boys in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, medieval variant of Jack. It is also sometimes used as a short form of Jacob. The entry lists its usage as English.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Jake ranked #457 for boys in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #457 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Jake in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Jake mean?
Behind the Name does not give Jake a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: medieval variant of Jack.
Is Jake a popular name?
Jake ranked #457 for boys in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Jake a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Jake appears in the boys' list; Behind the Name labels it masculine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Jake — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.