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Jaap

yahp /jaːp/ Dutch

At a glance

In short
Jaap, a Dutch name pronounced "yahp," is a unique and strong diminutive of Jacob.
U.S. rank 2025
#14,942 of girl names (outside the top 1,000)
Babies in 2025
5 (<0.01% of girls)
Peak
#14,942 in 2025
First recorded
2022

Meaning of Jaap

Jaap is a distinctive and strong name of Dutch origin, commonly pronounced as "yahp" (/ja:p/). Traditionally a diminutive of the name Jacob or Jakob, Jaap carries a rich cultural heritage and historical significance. Although it is more frequently used for males in the Netherlands, Jaap is gaining popularity as a unique and bold choice for baby girls in other parts of the world. In 2022, five newborns in the United States were named Jaap, placing it at rank 15,275. This rare yet charming name evokes a sense of individuality and cultural depth, making it an excellent option for parents seeking something both meaningful and uncommon.

How to pronounce Jaap

Dutch

Popularity of Jaap in the U.S.

Jaap was the #14,942 girl name in the U.S. in 2025, with 5 babies. It first appears in the records in 2022.

Bar and line chart: Jaap in the U.S., 2022–2025. Bars: girls given the name each year, most 5 in 2022 and 5 in 2025. Line: rank among girl names, peak #14,942 in 2025.
  • Girls named Jaap (left scale)
  • Rank among U.S. girl names (right scale, #1 at the top)
By year, 2022–2025. Source: SSA. Download: PNG · SVG
Year-by-year table, 2022⁠–⁠2025 2 rows
YearBabiesRankvs previous year
2025514,942back
2022515,306new

Notable people named Jaap

  • Jaap Stam is a Dutch football coach and legendary former defender who helped Manchester United win the Treble in 1999.
  • Jaap van Zweden is a Dutch conductor and violinist who leads the Seoul Philharmonic and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France.
  • Jaap Eden was a Dutch athlete and the only man to win world championships in both speed skating and cycling.
  • Jaap van Praag was a Dutch football administrator who served as chairman of Ajax.
  • Jaap Meijer was a Dutch Jewish historian and poet who wrote under the name Saul van Messel.
More people named Jaap 10 more
  • Jaap Reesema, also known as Jake Reese, is a Dutch singer-songwriter.
  • Jaap Tamino van Dissel is a Dutch specialist in viruses and infectious diseases.
  • Jaap Bakema was a Dutch modernist architect known for his public housing designs and his role in rebuilding Rotterdam after World War II.
  • Jaap ter Linden is a Dutch cellist, viol player and conductor known for performing baroque and classical music on period instruments.
  • Jaap van Praag was a Dutch thinker and politician who helped establish modern secular humanism in the Netherlands and worldwide.
  • Jaap Blokker was a Dutch businessman and executive.
  • Jaap Oudkerk was a Dutch cyclist who won a bronze medal in the team pursuit at the 1964 Olympics.
  • Jaap Meijer was a Dutch track cyclist who won a silver medal in the sprint at the 1924 Paris Olympics.
  • Jaap Kersten is a Dutch former professional cyclist who competed in five editions of the Tour de France.
  • Jaap Mol — Jacob Mol was a Dutch football forward selected to represent the Netherlands at the 1934 World Cup.