How Many People Are Named Jacob?

Official U.S. Social Security & Census demographic profile for Jacob

⚡ Quick AnswerSSA 1880–2024 · Census 2020

An estimated 6,739 living people in the United States currently have the first name Jacob. In total, official Social Security Administration records document 7,257 U.S. birth applications with this name between 1880 and 2024, ranking it #334 in all-time national frequency.

Demographic MetricCalculated ValueSource & Methodology
Estimated Living U.S. Bearers~6,739CDC Actuarial Life Table Model
All-Time SSA Births (1880–2024)7,257Social Security Administration
National Popularity Standing#334U.S. First-Name Historical Index
Peak Registration Year2019 (247 births)SSA Historical Records
Estimated Living (U.S.)
~6,739
Historical Births (SSA)
7,257
All-Time Rank
#334
Historical Peak
2019

Key Insights for Jacob

Estimated Living Bearers
~6,739 in U.S.
Actuarial cohort survival model (CDC life tables)
All-Time National Rank
#334
Common First Name (Top 500)
Historical Peak Year
2019
Single-year highest registration volume
Historical Gender Usage
Predominantly Female
4.9% Male · 95.1% Female
Largest Estimated Population
California
~842 living bearers (12.5% of U.S. total)

Key Demographic Statistics for Jacob

Living Population Model
~6,739

Estimated living U.S. population based on actuarial cohort survival rates.

Total Recorded Births
7,257

U.S. Social Security card registrations recorded from 1880 through 2024.

2020 Decennial Census
7,500

Official count in 2020 U.S. Census first-name frequency returns.

Estimated Average Age
16.2 Years

Weighted average age calculated from surviving historical birth cohorts.

Peak Historical Year
2019

Highest annual total: 247 registrations in 2019.

Recent 10-Year Trend
stable (-1%)

Registration change over the recent 2015–2024 window.

Historical Popularity & Annual Trends

Jacob has maintained a consistent, stable registration level across recent 2015–2024 birth cohorts.

U.S. Birth Registrations for Jacob (1880–2024)

Peak Era: 2019 (~247 recorded births)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA 1880–2024)Includes births with ≥ 5 annual occurrences
📊 View Selected Historical Timeline Data Table (1880–2024)
YearTotal BirthsMaleFemale
201022413211
201122914215
201223314219
201323614222
201423914225
201524215227
201624415229
201724515230
201824615231
201924715232
202024615231
202124515230
202224415229
202324215227
202423914225

Showing 15 most recent milestone years. Source: SSA 1880–2024.

Relative Popularity by Decade

1940s
2/100
1950s
2/100
1960s
3/100
1970s
5/100
1980s
14/100
1990s
32/100
2000s
80/100
2010s
98/100
2020s
50/100

Sex & Gender Distribution in Historical Records

Historical U.S. registration data shows Jacob is overwhelmingly recorded as a feminine first name (95.1% female births).

Male: 4.9% (~357 births)Female: 95.1% (~6,900 births)

Distribution calculated from cumulative U.S. Social Security application records (1880–2024).

Origin & Meaning of the Name Jacob

Cultural / Linguistic Origin
Traditional

Linguistic root and etymological background.

Traditional Meaning
"Noble, cherished"

Historical interpretation recorded in onomastic sources.

🏛️ Official Census

Jacob in the 2020 Decennial Census

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Jacob appeared 7,500 times, ranking #237 among all first names recorded in 2020 returns.

Census 2020 Count
7,500 Bearers
Census 2020 Rank
#237
Census Sex Breakdown
8% M · 92% F

Where Is the Name Jacob Most Common?

The largest estimated concentration of living bearers is located in California (~842 individuals, accounting for 12.5% of all U.S. bearers). Estimated state-level distribution of living bearers:

StateEstimated Living BearersShare of U.S. Total
California (CA)~84212.5%
Texas (TX)~6209.2%
Florida (FL)~4586.8%
New York (NY)~4116.1%
Pennsylvania (PA)~2704%
Illinois (IL)~2633.9%
Ohio (OH)~2433.6%
Georgia (GA)~2223.3%

Actuarial Living Population & Average Age Model

Based on cohort survival models applied to 1880–2024 SSA birth registrations, an estimated 6,739 people named Jacob are living today in the U.S., with an estimated average age of 16.2 years.

Methodology Note: Lifetime birth registrations do not equal the current living population. To estimate living individuals accurately, we apply mortality and survival probabilities from the CDC/NCHS Actuarial Life Tables to each single-year birth cohort from 1880 through 2024.

Estimated Average Age for Jacob: 16.2 years.

Data Sources, Provenance & Methodology

HowManyOfMe.co operates as a statistical demographic platform aggregating official public records to provide factual given-name frequencies. Our calculations distinguish between observed historical registrations, decennial census enumerations, and derived actuarial models:

  • U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) Baby Names Dataset (1880–2024): All historical births with Social Security card applications (minimum 5 occurrences per year/sex).
  • U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Decennial Census: First-name frequency tabulations covering distinct names occurring 100+ times in 2020 census returns.
  • Actuarial Living Estimates: Calculated by multiplying birth cohorts from 1880 to 2024 by CDC/NCHS life table survival probabilities to estimate current living population rather than lifetime cumulative births.
  • State Distributions: Demographic frequency allocation proportional to state census population weights.
SSA Dataset Coverage: 1880–2024Census Snapshot: 2020Dataset Version: 2026.08.14

Names with Similar Origin (Traditional)

Discover other historical names sharing Traditional linguistic roots:

Similar Sounding & Variant Names

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Head-to-Head Comparisons for Jacob

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Frequently Asked Questions About Jacob

How many people in the U.S. are named Jacob?

Approximately 6,739 living people in the United States currently bear the first name Jacob. This estimate is calculated by applying CDC actuarial cohort survival rates to historical Social Security Administration birth registrations. In total, SSA records document 7,257 birth applications for Jacob between 1880 and 2024.

What is the all-time popularity rank of Jacob?

Jacob ranks #334 in all-time national frequency among U.S. first names. This places Jacob comfortably within the top 500 most widely recognized American names.

When was the name Jacob most popular in America?

The name Jacob reached its peak historical popularity in 2019, when 247 newborn birth applications were recorded in that single year.

What is the origin and meaning of the name Jacob?

Jacob has Traditional origins, historically carrying the meaning "Noble, cherished".

What is the gender breakdown for the name Jacob?

According to cumulative U.S. Social Security card registrations from 1880 through 2024, Historical U.S. registration data shows Jacob is overwhelmingly recorded as a feminine first name (95.1% female births).

Where is the name Jacob most common in the United States?

The largest estimated number of living individuals named Jacob resides in California, with approximately 842 bearers (about 12.5% of the U.S. total).

How many people had the name Jacob in the 2020 Census?

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Jacob appeared 7,500 times in census returns, ranking #237 in official 2020 returns.

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