Jacob
Jacob is a boys' name of Hebrew origin meaning “supplanter; one who follows at the heel.” It ranked #43 in the United States in 2025. From the Hebrew Yaakov, meaning he who supplants or grabs the heel.
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how do you pronounce Jacob?
JAY-kub
where does the name Jacob come from?
From the Hebrew יַעֲקֹב (Ya'aqov), connected to aqev, meaning heel. Genesis explains it twice: he is born gripping his twin's heel, and he later takes his brother's birthright, which the text turns into a pun on supplanting. Both readings — follower at the heel and one who supplants — come from the same word.
In the Bible, Jacob was the patriarch who wrestled with an angel and fathered the twelve tribes of Israel. Jacob was America's most popular boys' name from 1999 to 2012.
how popular is this name?
Jacob has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 146 years since 1880. It peaked at #1 in 1999, and ranked #43 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #43 |
| 2024 | #40 |
| 2023 | #35 |
| 2022 | #32 |
| 2021 | #24 |
| 2020 | #15 |
| 2019 | #12 |
| 2018 | #13 |
| 2017 | #9 |
| 2016 | #7 |
| 2010 | #1 |
| 2000 | #1 |
| 1999 | #1 |
| 1990 | #20 |
| 1980 | #43 |
| 1970 | #255 |
| 1960 | #351 |
| 1950 | #318 |
| 1940 | #234 |
| 1930 | #212 |
| 1920 | #143 |
| 1910 | #117 |
| 1900 | #101 |
| 1890 | #66 |
| 1880 | #39 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Jacob fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Jacob
Jacob wrestles a stranger through the night at the ford of Jabbok and is renamed Israel as a result, making him the ancestor whose name the nation carries. The name passed into Latin as Iacobus, from which English drew both Jacob and, by a separate route, James. It topped the American boys' charts for thirteen consecutive years from 1999.
what are the nicknames and variants of Jacob?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
who are famous people named Jacob?
- Jacob (biblical patriarch)
- Jacob Black (Twilight character)
- Jacob deGrom (baseball player)
what names are similar to Jacob?
what names go well with Jacob?
Sibling names that share Jacob's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Jacob
What does the name Jacob mean?
Jacob means “supplanter; one who follows at the heel”.
What is the origin of the name Jacob?
Jacob comes from the Hebrew naming tradition. Related forms include James, Jakob, Yaakov and Jacques.
How popular is the name Jacob?
Jacob ranked #43 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1999, at #1, and it has spent 146 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Jacob a boy or girl name?
Jacob is primarily a boys' name.
How do you pronounce Jacob?
Jacob is pronounced JAY-kub, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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