Jakobi is a modern spelling of Jacoby, a surname derived from Jacob, the Hebrew name usually explained as "holder of the heel" or "supplanter". The k spelling and the -i ending give the old name a contemporary look. Jakobi stood at number 2103 in the United States in 2000, reached number 1181 in 2022 and ranks number 1657 in 2025 with 101 boys.