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Home › Baby Names Directory › Jacobus

Jacobus

♂ Boy

Pronounced yah-KOH-buhs /jɑˈkoʊbʊs/Medium

Meaning: Jacobus is the Latin form of Jacob (and thus of James), from Hebrew Ya'aqov, traditionally read as 'supplanter' or 'holder of the heel.' It is used as a given name especially in Dutch and Afrikaans communities.Medium

In 30 seconds: The Latin form of Jacob and James: Jacobus means 'supplanter; holder of the heel' (said 'yah-KOH-buhs'). Classic and stately.
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Origin MediumLatin
MeaningJacobus is the Latin form of Jacob (and thus of James), from Hebrew Ya'aqov, traditionally read as 'supplanter' or 'holder of the heel.' It is used as a given name especially in Dutch and Afrikaans communities.
U.S. rank (2024)#11444 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births6 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1997
Total births (all-time)≈ 137

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201019792024

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

Jacobus is the Latin form of Jacob, itself from Hebrew Ya'aqov, traditionally glossed 'supplanter' or 'holder of the heel.' As the Latin of James too, it long served in Dutch and Afrikaans naming. A stately, scholarly form (said 'yah-KOH-buhs').

It appears only rarely in the U.S., often as an heirloom or heritage name. Rare, classical, and dignified.

Did you know? Jacobus is the Latin form behind both Jacob and James — from Hebrew Ya'aqov, 'holder of the heel' — long favored in Dutch and Afrikaans families (said 'yah-KOH-buhs').
Overall data confidence 56%
References — Jacobus — Latin form of Jacob/James; Dutch/Afrikaans use

Variations

JacobJakobJames

Nicknames

JacoKoos

Famous Bearers

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If you like Jacobus…

Jacob— the name Jacobus is the Latin form of
Cornelius— a like stately Latin-form pick
Lucas— a like classical -us name
Maximus— a similarly popular pick
Atticus— a fellow Latin choice

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Jacobus mean?

Jacobus is the Latin form of Jacob and James, from Hebrew Ya'aqov, traditionally read as 'supplanter' or 'holder of the heel.'

How do you pronounce Jacobus?

It's often said yah-KOH-buhs /jɑˈkoʊbʊs/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Jacobus a boy or girl name?

Jacobus is used here as a boy's name.

How popular is Jacobus?

Jacobus is a rare, classical name in the U.S.

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