UK boy's name
Jaques
A masculine name of French origin meaning "supplanter" or "one who follows".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Jaques is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Jaques popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4991, 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 2023. 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 Jaques. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Jaques ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1999, when 3 boys were registered as Jaques.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Jaques as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4991
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
1999
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Jaques mean?
The name Jaques originated from the late Latin name Jacobus, which was derived from the Hebrew name Ya'aqov. Ya'aqov means "supplanter" or "one who follows" in Hebrew. Jaques is a French variant of the name Jacob, which is also the English translation of the Hebrew name.
The name Jaques rose to prominence in medieval France and was particularly popular among the French aristocracy during the 11th and 12th centuries. It was often spelled as "Jacques" or "Jaque" during this time period. The name is believed to have been introduced to France by the Normans, who conquered parts of the country in the 11th century.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jaques can be found in the biblical Book of Genesis, which mentions the patriarch Jacob, the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham. Jacob is a central figure in the Hebrew Bible and is considered one of the three patriarchs of the Israelites.
Over the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the name Jaques. One of the most famous was Jaques de Molay (c. 1244 – 1314), the 23rd and last Grand Master of the Knights Templar. He was burned at the stake after the Order was suppressed by King Philip IV of France.
Another prominent figure was Jaques Cartier (1491 – 1557), a French explorer who is credited with naming Canada and mapping the St. Lawrence River. Jaques Rousseau (1712 – 1778) was a Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer who had a significant influence on the Enlightenment and the development of modern political and educational thought.
In the world of literature, Jaques is a memorable character in William Shakespeare's play "As You Like It," known for his famous monologue "All the world's a stage." Jaques Callot (1592 – 1635) was a prominent French painter and printmaker, best known for his etchings depicting the Thirty Years' War.
While the name Jaques has been more commonly used in France and other French-speaking regions, it has also been adopted in other parts of the world, albeit with varying spellings and pronunciations.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Jaques over time
The chart below shows babies named Jaques registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Jaques, the clearest high point is 1999. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Jaques by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Jaques 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4991 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | #2943 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Jaques
- 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
Jaques: questions and answers
How popular is the name Jaques in the UK right now?
In 2023, Jaques was ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Jaques most popular?
The peak year on record was 1999, with 3 babies registered as Jaques in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Jaques?
A masculine name of French origin meaning "supplanter" or "one who follows".
How many people are called Jaques in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Jaques 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.