Jacob

♀ Girl

Pronounced JAY-kub /ˈdʒeɪ.kəb/High

Meaning: From the Hebrew Ya'aqov, traditionally 'supplanter; one who follows; held by the heel' — the biblical patriarch Jacob. Used here for a girl though it is overwhelmingly a boy's name.Medium

In 30 seconds: A classic biblical name: Jacob means 'supplanter; held by the heel' (said 'JAY-kub'). Much more often a boy's name — we note the lean.

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Origin MediumHebrew

MeaningFrom the Hebrew Ya'aqov, traditionally 'supplanter; one who follows; held by the heel' — the biblical patriarch Jacob. Used here for a girl though it is overwhelmingly a boy's name.

U.S. rank (2024)#10576 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births9 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2004

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,305

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Jacob comes from the Hebrew Ya'aqov, 'supplanter; held by the heel,' the biblical patriarch, brother of Esau. As a girl's name it is very rare; it is far more often a boy's name, which we note (said 'JAY-kub').

For girls it appears only rarely in the U.S., against enormous boys' use. Rare for girls, biblical, and classic.

Did you know? Jacob is Hebrew for 'supplanter; one who follows' — the biblical patriarch and one of the most enduring boys' names in the West. It's used here for a girl, though it leans overwhelmingly to boys, which we note (said 'JAY-kub').

Overall data confidence 55%

References — Jacob — Hebrew 'supplanter'; biblical; strongly boy-leaning

Variations

JacobaJakobeJaycob

Nicknames

JakeCoby

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Jacob…

James— a like classic biblical name used cross-sex

Jonah— a like biblical -ah/-ob name

Micah— a like biblical name used for both

Joelle— shares Jacob's Hebrew roots

Jael— another Hebrew name

Explore names like Jacob

By themehebrew biblical cross-sex unisex-lean-boy

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Jacob mean?

Jacob is Hebrew for 'supplanter; one who follows; held by the heel' — the biblical patriarch.

How do you pronounce Jacob?

It's said JAY-kub /ˈdʒeɪ.kəb/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Jacob a boy or girl name?

Jacob is overwhelmingly a boy's name; it is used here for a girl, and we note the lean.

How popular is Jacob?

Jacob is very rare for girls and a longtime favorite for boys in the U.S.