UK boy's name
Jabe
A short form of Jacob, a Hebrew masculine name meaning "supplanter".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2015. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Jabe is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Jabe popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2015 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4747, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1999, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 1999 to 2015. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Jabe. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2016 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Jabe ranked #4747 for boys in England and Wales in 2015, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1999, when 3 boys were registered as Jabe.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Jabe as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4747
2015
Births in 2015
3
Latest year
Peak year
1999
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Jabe mean?
The name Jabe is a relatively uncommon one, with its origins shrouded in mystery. It is believed to have emerged from the ancient Semitic languages of the Middle East, possibly derived from the Hebrew word "yabeh," meaning "to be dry" or "to wither."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jabe can be traced back to the biblical figure Jabe-El, a minor character mentioned in the Book of Genesis. He was a descendant of the Ishmaelites, a nomadic tribe that inhabited the Arabian Desert during ancient times.
In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the name Jabe was Jabe al-Baghdadi, an Islamic scholar and mathematician from Baghdad. He made significant contributions to the field of algebra and authored several treatises on the subject.
During the Renaissance period, a Venetian explorer named Jabe Cabotto (1497-1557) gained recognition for his voyages to the Americas. He is credited with being one of the first Europeans to explore the coast of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.
In the 19th century, Jabe Tomes (1804-1888) was a prominent English dentist and author. He wrote several influential works on dental anatomy and pathology, which helped advance the field of dentistry.
Another notable figure was Jabe Bowers (1828-1908), an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from California in the late 19th century. He played a crucial role in shaping the state's early political landscape.
While the name Jabe has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, these individuals have left their mark in various fields, ranging from religion and academia to exploration and politics, showcasing the diversity of those who have borne this unique name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Jabe over time
The chart below shows babies named Jabe registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2015. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Jabe, the clearest high point is 1999. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2015, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Jabe by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Jabe was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4747 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | #2943 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Jabe
- Jack 188,738
- Joshua 145,192
- James 141,878
- Joseph 102,259
- Jacob 93,754
- Jake 66,896
- Jamie 41,243
- Jordan 36,750
- Jayden 28,921
- Jude 24,156
- John 22,240
- Joe 19,164
FAQ
Jabe: questions and answers
How popular is the name Jabe in the UK right now?
In 2015, Jabe was ranked #4747 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Jabe most popular?
The peak year on record was 1999, with 3 babies registered as Jabe in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Jabe?
A short form of Jacob, a Hebrew masculine name meaning "supplanter".
How many people are called Jabe in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Jabe across the 2 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.