Jacob vs Simon
Jacob and Simoncompared 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 1997, Jacob was ranked #10 and Simon #83 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1997, Jacob was ranked #16 and Simon #94 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Jacob was ranked #19 and Simon #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jacob was ranked #27 and Simon #535 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jacob was ranked #30 and Simon #524 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Jacob was ranked #59 and Simon #159 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jacob was ranked #62 and Simon #244 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Jacob and Simon over time
Jacob and Simon appear together in 6 published lists, across 203 years of shared records. Jacob held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Simon in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Simon reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 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 1989, Jacob moved ahead of Simon in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #44 and #37 the year before became #38 and #41.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jacob and Simon changed places 9 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #59 and #159.
- Longest-running competitions
Jacob and Simon were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 76 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #59 and #159.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #94 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2022 they were #19 and #311.
List by list
Norway · Boys76 shared years, 1945–2025
Jacob held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Simon in 52.
Highest recorded here: Jacob #34 in 2017, Simon #35 in 1992.
The order changed in 2009: Jacob moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #72 and #65; by 2009 that had become #66 and #71.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jacob #59, Simon #159.
Republic of Ireland · Boys40 shared years, 1980–2025
Jacob held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Simon in 18.
Highest recorded here: Jacob #37 in 2016, Simon #46 in 1987.
The order changed in 2005: Jacob moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #134 and #112; by 2005 that had become #109 and #119.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jacob #62, Simon #244.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jacob held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Simon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jacob #4 in 2013, Simon #87 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jacob #30, Simon #524.
Northern Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 1997–2022
Jacob held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Simon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jacob #5 in 2017, Simon #95 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Jacob #19, Simon #311.
New Zealand · Boys19 shared years, 1977–1997
Jacob held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Simon in 12.
Highest recorded here: Jacob #10 in 1997, Simon #13 in 1977.
The order changed in 1991: Jacob moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #37 and #34; by 1991 that had become #33 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Jacob #10, Simon #83.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys16 shared years, 1982–1997
Jacob held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Simon in 7.
Highest recorded here: Jacob #16 in 1997, Simon #26 in 1982.
The order changed in 1989: Jacob moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #44 and #37; by 1989 that had become #38 and #41.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Jacob #16, Simon #94.
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 | Jacob | Simon |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | 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'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek and Latin | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdʒeɪkəb/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #42 (2025) | Norway · Boys #159 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 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); Simon does not have one recorded yet.
- Jacob and Simon both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Jacob; Simon doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
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
Simon
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #266 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1997
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New Zealand, in 1976 (recorded 1954–1997).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #159 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys