Jacare
A masculine Portuguese name derived from the word for "alligator".
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Jacare. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Jacare today is around 23 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Jacare births was 2003 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Jacare. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Jacare. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
2003
6 babies that year
Average age
23
years old
2003 SSA rank
#10,070
Tracked since 2003
Popularity
Jacare: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Jacare by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Jacare during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Jacare
The name Jacare originates from the Tupi language, spoken by indigenous tribes in Brazil. It dates back to the 16th century, when Portuguese colonizers first encountered these tribes. Jacare is derived from the Tupi word "jacaru," meaning "crocodile" or "alligator."
In the Tupi culture, the name Jacare was likely given to individuals with a perceived connection to these reptiles, perhaps due to their strength, resilience, or proximity to bodies of water where crocodiles and alligators dwell. It may have been a name bestowed upon warriors or hunters known for their bravery and prowess.
While there are no known direct references to the name Jacare in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its Tupi origins suggest it was in use among the indigenous tribes of Brazil long before European colonization.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Jacare was Jacare-Tinga, a Tupi chief who lived in the 16th century and led his tribe in resistance against Portuguese colonizers. He is remembered for his fierce defense of his people's lands and traditions.
Another notable figure was Jacare Catu, a Tupi warrior from the 17th century who fought alongside Portuguese settlers against rival indigenous tribes. He was renowned for his bravery and tactical prowess in battle.
In the 19th century, Jacare Curutu was a prominent Tupi leader who advocated for the rights and protection of his people in the face of encroaching colonization and exploitation.
Moving into the 20th century, Jacare Teyupagu was a respected Tupi shaman and healer, known for his vast knowledge of traditional medicine and spiritual practices.
Lastly, Jacare Mboye was a contemporary Tupi artist and activist, celebrated for his vibrant paintings depicting the rich cultural heritage and struggles of his people.
While the name Jacare may not be as prevalent today, its Tupi origins and historical significance in Brazil's indigenous cultures make it a fascinating and meaningful name with a rich legacy.
People
Jacare + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Jacare as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with J
Other first names starting with J with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Jacare: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Jacare?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Jacare going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Jacare a common name?
We classify Jacare as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Jacare most popular?
The single biggest year for Jacare was 2003, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Jacare is about 23 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Jacare in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Jacare a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Jacare in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Jacare still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Jacare in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Jacare can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people share the name Jacare?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.