Name comparison
Jacob vs James
James is the more common of the two, with roughly 9.6x more bearers worldwide.
Side-by-side
| Metric | Jacob | James |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated bearers worldwide | 917,124 | 8,807,695 |
| Global rank | #27 | #2 |
| Rarity (worldwide) | 1 in 8,723 | 1 in 908 |
| Origin | n/a | Hebrew, English |
| Predominant gender | Male (99.8%) | Male (99.5%) |
| Countries with data | 1 | 11 |
| U.S. bearers | 917,124 | 2,808,572 |
How they differ
James has approximately 8.8M living bearers compared to 917k for Jacob - a ratio of about 9.6x.
Jacob originates from unknown origins. James originates from Hebrew (supplanter; from Ya'aqov (Jacob)); English (anglicized form of Iacomus, the Late Latin form of Greek Iakobos).
Frequently asked questions
Is Jacob or James more popular?
James is more popular worldwide, with approximately 8,807,695 estimated living bearers compared to 917,124 for Jacob. That is roughly 9.6x more bearers of James.
What is the difference in origin between Jacob and James?
Jacob originates from unknown sources. James originates from Hebrew, English.
Are Jacob and James used for the same gender?
Both Jacob and James are predominantly used as male names.
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