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Jacqueline

♀ Girl

Pronounced JAK-weh-lin /ˈdʒæk.wɪ.lɪn/High

Meaning: French feminine form of Jacques (French form of James), from Hebrew Yaakov meaning 'supplanter' or 'one who follows at the heel,' from the biblical patriarch Jacob who grasped his twin brother Esau's heel at birthHigh

In 30 seconds: Jacqueline is the elegant French feminine of James and Jacob, meaning 'supplanter.' Carrying the glamour of Jacqueline Kennedy, it is one of the great mid-century American names.
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Origin HighFrench, Hebrew
MeaningFrench feminine form of Jacques (French form of James), from Hebrew Yaakov meaning 'supplanter' or 'one who follows at the heel,' from the biblical patriarch Jacob who grasped his twin brother Esau's heel at birth
U.S. rank (2025)#558 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births541 girls (0.03% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1964
Total births (all-time)≈ 426,079

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 196418912025

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

History & Origin

Jacqueline is the French feminine of Jacques, the French form of James, which derives from Late Latin Jacobus, from Hebrew Yaakov (from the verb aqav, 'to follow at the heel' or 'to supplant'). The patriarch Jacob grasped his twin Esau's heel at birth, earning this name as a sign of his destiny. The feminine French Jacqueline developed in the medieval period and entered English use through French influence.

Jacqueline was popular in the United States throughout the mid-20th century and surged dramatically with the election of President John F. Kennedy, whose wife Jackie brought the name to peak visibility. It ranked in the top 20 from the 1950s through the 1970s. Now in gentle decline, it remains in the top 300 and is considered a dignified, glamorous classic.

Did you know? Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis transformed her given name into a cultural byword for elegance and grace — and is credited with a surge in Jacqueline's U.S. popularity in the 1960s that made it a top-10 name during and after her time as First Lady.
Overall data confidence 95%
Behind the Name — Jacqueline — etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

JacquelynJacklynJaclyn

Nicknames

JackieJacquiJacque

Famous Bearers

  • ★Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (1929–1994)
    American First Lady, style icon, and editor, widely regarded as the most glamorous First Lady in U.S. history.

If you like Jacqueline…

Josephine— shares the French feminine -ine ending and the same Hebraic biblical root and mid-century elegance
Madeline— French three-syllable girls' name with the same Jackie-era elegance and literary resonance
Caroline— French feminine classic with the same three-syllable stately flow and royal associations
Vivienne— shares the French feminine elegance and the same vintage glamour that is cycling back into fashion

Frequently Asked

What does the name Jacqueline mean?

Jacqueline is the French feminine of Jacques and James, from Hebrew Yaakov meaning 'one who follows at the heel' or 'supplanter' — the name of the biblical patriarch Jacob.

How do you pronounce Jacqueline?

It is said JAK-weh-lin — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Jacqueline a boy or girl name?

Jacqueline is used almost exclusively as a girls' name. The masculine form is Jacques or James.

How popular is Jacqueline?

Jacqueline peaked in the U.S. top 20 in the 1960s and remains in the top 300. It is a polished classic with enduring association with Jacqueline Kennedy.