How to say it
JAKE
/dʒeɪk/
Masculine
Jake
Supplanter
What it means
A short form of Jacob, from the Hebrew for 'supplanter' or 'holder of the heel.'
Jake began as a short form of Jacob, from the Hebrew Yaakov, 'supplanter' or 'holder of the heel,' the patriarch who grasped his twin's heel at birth. It long ago became a confident standalone name, easygoing and all-American. Actors like Jake Gyllenhaal keep it current. One friendly syllable.
Popularity over time
peaked at #96 in 2000, currently #457 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
A short form of Jacob, now used on its own.
- Pop culture
Actor Jake Gyllenhaal.
Spelling variants
- Jacob
- Jaik
- Jayke
Names with the same feeling
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By style