Jakory
A masculine name of unknown origin, possibly a blend of various names.
Name Census estimates that about 123 living Americans carry the first name Jakory. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Jakory today is around 18 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Jakory births was 2012 (12 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Jakory. 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.
People living today
123
~ 1 in 2,786,621 Americans
Peak year
2012
12 babies that year
Average age
18
years old
2023 SSA rank
#13,007
Tracked since 1997
Popularity
Jakory: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Jakory from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 63 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Jakory 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 Jakory during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Jakory
The name Jakory is believed to have originated from the Yoruba language spoken in West Africa, particularly in present-day Nigeria and parts of Benin and Togo. The Yoruba people have a rich cultural heritage dating back several centuries, and their naming traditions often reflect this.
In the Yoruba language, the name Jakory is thought to be derived from the combination of two words: "jako" meaning "to bestow" and "ri" meaning "to see" or "to witness." Together, the name Jakory can be interpreted as "one who bears witness" or "one who bestows blessings." This meaning is rooted in the Yoruba belief system and their reverence for the spiritual realm.
While there are no definitive records of the name's appearance in ancient texts or religious scriptures, some scholars suggest that Jakory may have been used as a name by Yoruba elders or spiritual leaders in the past. Its significance as a name that invokes blessings and spiritual guidance aligns with the Yoruba tradition of seeking divine intervention and protection.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jakory dates back to the late 18th century, when a Yoruba man named Jakory Oluwole was a prominent trader and community leader in the coastal region of present-day Nigeria. His influence and reputation as a wise and respected figure in his community may have contributed to the name's broader recognition and usage.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Jakory:
1. Jakory Akinwande (1923-2004), a Nigerian artist and sculptor renowned for his intricate wood carvings and his efforts to preserve traditional Yoruba art forms.
2. Jakory Obafemi (1947-2019), a Nigerian politician and activist who played a significant role in the country's pro-democracy movement during the military rule of the 1990s.
3. Jakory Adebayo (1932-2008), a Yoruba chief and traditional ruler in the Ogun State region of Nigeria, known for his efforts in promoting cultural heritage and community development.
4. Jakory Ogunbiyi (1957-present), a Nigerian-American writer and academic who has published several works exploring the intersection of Yoruba culture, diaspora, and identity.
5. Jakory Adeyemi (1968-present), a Nigerian-British entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded a successful technology company and has contributed to various charitable initiatives in West Africa.
While the name Jakory may not be as common as some other Yoruba names, its historical significance and connection to the rich cultural traditions of the Yoruba people have ensured its enduring presence throughout the centuries.
People
Jakory + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Jakory 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
Jakory: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Jakory?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 123 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Jakory 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 2,786,621 US residents.
Is Jakory a common name?
We classify Jakory as "Very Rare". It ranks above 67.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 124 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Jakory most popular?
The single biggest year for Jakory was 2012, when 12 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Jakory is about 18 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 Jakory in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Jakory a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Jakory 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 Jakory still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Jakory 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 Jakory 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 are called Jakory?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.