Namewise

Hunter vs Jake

Hunter and Jakecompared 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 2017, Hunter was ranked #5 and Jake #96 among boys in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 2020, Hunter was ranked #22 and Jake #87 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Hunter was ranked #52 and Jake #165 among boys in Scotland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Hunter was ranked #93 and Jake #84 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Hunter was ranked #91 and Jake #235 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Hunter was ranked #159 and Jake #95 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

Hunter and Jake over time

Hunter and Jake appear together in 5 published lists, across 93 years of shared records. Jake held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Hunter in 1.

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.

Jake reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Hunter 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 took the other's place near the top

    In New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Hunter moved into the top 50 at #25 in 2013 as Jake fell out of it to #51, having been #33 the year before.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 2018, Hunter moved ahead of Jake in England and Wales · Boys — #78 and #56 the year before became #44 and #67.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Hunter and Jake were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #91 and #235.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Hunter held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Jake in 22.

    Highest recorded here: Hunter #44 in 2018, Jake #15 in 2006.

    The order changed in 2018: Hunter moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #78 and #56; by 2018 that had become #44 and #67.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Hunter #91, Jake #235.

  • New Zealand · Boys19 shared years, 1999–2017

    Hunter held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Jake in 4.

    Highest recorded here: Hunter #5 in 2017, Jake #44 in 2005.

    The order changed in 2003: Hunter moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #63 and #45; by 2003 that had become #43 and #53.

    Most recent shared year, 2017: Hunter #5, Jake #96.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys15 shared years, 2005–2020

    Hunter held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Jake in 8.

    Highest recorded here: Hunter #16 in 2017, Jake #24 in 2006.

    The order changed in 2013: Hunter moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #35 and #33; by 2013 that had become #25 and #51.

    Most recent shared year, 2020: Hunter #22, Jake #87.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys15 shared years, 2008–2024

    Hunter held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Jake in 15.

    Highest recorded here: Hunter #70 in 2019, Jake #10 in 2015.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Hunter #93, Jake #84.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys14 shared years, 2012–2025

    Hunter held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Jake in 14.

    Highest recorded here: Hunter #91 in 2021, Jake #25 in 2015.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Hunter #159, Jake #95.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Hunter

Pairs where Hunter shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Jake

Pairs where Jake shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.

All one took the other's place near the top→

Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists

Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New South Wales, Australia overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Hunter, Jake
FieldHunterJake
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningAn English occupational surname, from Old English 'hunta'/'huntian' ('to hunt') — someone who hunted for a living.A medieval variant of Jack, also sometimes used as a short form of Jacob.
OriginEnglish, an occupational surname describing someone who huntedEnglish, medieval variant
Pronunciation/ˈhʌn.təɹ//ˈd͡ʒeɪk/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNew South Wales, Australia · Boys #60 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #95 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Hunter is recorded with a English, an occupational surname describing someone who hunted origin, while Jake is recorded with a English, medieval variant origin.
  • Hunter and Jake both have 2 syllables.
  • Hunter's recorded meaning differs from Jake's — see the table above for each.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Hunter

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1996

    First recorded at #2357 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    England and Wales · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1999–2023

    Highest recorded position: #5 among boys in New Zealand, in 2017 (recorded 1999–2023).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #4867 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Jake

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1983

    First recorded at #330 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1983 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1986–2020

    Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1994 (recorded 1986–2020).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #235 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys