Jacob

♂ Boy

Pronounced JAY-kub /ˈdʒeɪ.kəb/High

Meaning: Supplanter; one who takes another's place; he who follows at the heelHigh

In 30 seconds: From the Hebrew for 'supplanter,' Jacob is the patriarch who wrestled with an angel and was renamed Israel, founding the twelve tribes. He was the #1 U.S. boys' name for 14 straight years.

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Origin HighHebrew

MeaningSupplanter; one who takes another's place; he who follows at the heel

Peak year1998

Total births (all-time)≈ 919,481

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Jacob comes from the Hebrew Ya'aqov (יַעֲקֹב), literally 'he who grabs the heel,' interpreted as 'supplanter.' In Genesis, the patriarch Jacob tricked his father Isaac into giving him the blessing intended for his elder brother Esau, supplanting him. His name was later changed to Israel.

Jacob was widely used among Jews and later Christians. In the United States it ranked in the top 30 for most of the 20th century before surging to #1 in 1999, holding that position for a remarkable 14 consecutive years through 2012. It remains in the top 15.

Did you know? In Genesis, Jacob is born holding the heel of his twin brother Esau — hence the Hebrew name meaning 'heel' or 'supplanter.' After wrestling with God's messenger all night, his name is changed to Israel, meaning 'one who struggles with God,' making him the father of the nation.

Variations

JamesJaimeGiacomoJacquesYakovDiego

Nicknames

JakeJayCoby

Famous Bearers

★Jacob (biblical patriarch) (c. 1800 BC (traditional))
Hebrew patriarch, son of Isaac, father of the twelve sons who founded the twelve tribes of Israel.

If you like Jacob…

Noah— fellow biblical patriarch name that dominated the same era's charts

Ethan— equally steady top-five Hebrew classic of the same generation

Liam— shares the chart-topping 21st-century appeal

Elijah— another Hebrew patriarch/prophet in the top ranks

Caleb— fellow Old Testament Hebrew name with the same American popularity

Frequently Asked

What does the name Jacob mean?

Jacob comes from the Hebrew Ya'aqov, meaning 'supplanter' or 'one who grasps the heel,' from the biblical patriarch who was later renamed Israel.

How do you pronounce Jacob?

Jacob is said JAY-kub /ˈdʒeɪ.kəb/ — two syllables, with stress on the first.

Is Jacob a boy or girl name?

Jacob is used almost exclusively as a boy's name.

How popular is Jacob?

Jacob was the #1 U.S. boys' name for 14 consecutive years from 1999 to 2012, one of the longest runs at #1 in modern naming history.