Bradley vs Jacob
Bradley and Jacobcompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2005, Bradley was ranked #98 and Jacob #10 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Bradley was ranked #404 and Jacob #13 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2003, Bradley was ranked #76 and Jacob #17 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Bradley was ranked #246 and Jacob #27 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Bradley was ranked #364 and Jacob #30 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Bradley was ranked #372 and Jacob #62 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Bradley and Jacob over time
Bradley and Jacob appear together in 5 published lists, across 137 years of shared records. Jacob held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Bradley in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Bradley reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Jacob in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1998, Jacob moved ahead of Bradley in England and Wales · Boys — #28 and #29 the year before became #33 and #27.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Bradley and Jacob changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #404 and #13.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Bradley and Jacob averaged 24.7 places apart, ending at #76 and #17.
- Mirrored each other
Over 26 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Jacob rose about as far as Bradley fell — from #59 and #99 in 1977 to #98 and #10 in 2005.
- Longest-running competitions
Bradley and Jacob were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 33 years, from 1987 to 2025, ending at #372 and #62.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Bradley #130 in 2015, Jacob #37 in 2016.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #31 and #35 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #364 and #30.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys33 shared years, 1987–2025
Bradley held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Jacob in 31.
Highest recorded here: Bradley #130 in 2015, Jacob #37 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bradley #372, Jacob #62.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Bradley held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Jacob in 27.
Highest recorded here: Bradley #28 in 1997, Jacob #4 in 2013.
The order changed in 1998: Jacob moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #28 and #29; by 1998 that had become #33 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bradley #364, Jacob #30.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2024
Bradley held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Jacob in 23.
Highest recorded here: Bradley #68 in 1998, Jacob #5 in 2017.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bradley #404, Jacob #13.
New Zealand · Boys26 shared years, 1977–2005
Bradley held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Jacob in 16.
Highest recorded here: Bradley #28 in 1998, Jacob #6 in 2003.
The order changed in 1989: Jacob moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #33 and #43; by 1989 that had become #44 and #32.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Bradley #98, Jacob #10.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys22 shared years, 1982–2003
Bradley held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Jacob in 14.
Highest recorded here: Bradley #27 in 1991, Jacob #10 in 1999.
The order changed in 1990: Jacob moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #28 and #38; by 1990 that had become #32 and #31.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Bradley #76, Jacob #17.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Bradley | Jacob |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'holder of the heel' or 'supplanter', referencing the biblical account of Jacob being born grasping his twin brother Esau's heel. A less common alternate theory holds it may derive from a longer form meaning roughly 'may God protect'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek and Latin |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈdʒeɪkəb/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #372 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #42 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jacob has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Greek and Latin); Bradley does not have one recorded yet.
- Bradley and Jacob both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Jacob; Bradley doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Bradley
Popularity journey
First recorded1956
First recorded at #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1956 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1956–2003
Highest recorded position: #19 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1976 (recorded 1956–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #372 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Jacob
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #273 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #4 among boys in England and Wales, in 2013 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #42 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys