"Supplanter; one who follows at the heel"
Origin: Hebrew
Language: Hebrew
Jacob
Pronunciation: [ j-AYK-uhb ]
Does Jacob flow with your last name?
The patriarch who wrestled with angels
English
Jewish
German
Dutch
Scandinavian
Classic
Traditional
Strong
Spiritual
Sophisticated
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
Share
Meaning & Origin
"From Hebrew 'Yaakov'; the biblical patriarch who wrestled with an angel and was renamed Israel"
Origin: Biblical
Language: Hebrew
"supplanter, one who supplants"
Origin: Hebrew
Language: English
"holder of the heel"
Origin: Biblical Hebrew
Language: Hebrew
"may God protect"
Origin: Alternative Hebrew interpretation
Language: Hebrew
Browse names with similar meanings:
Playground Safety
Kid-Friendly
Similar to Jacob
See all →What the Jacob report tells you
$9Personalized to your state, siblings, and priorities. Free playground safety preview included.
Is Jacob the #1 name in your state, or barely on the radar?
Enter your other kids' names. We score how well they sound together.
Downloadable PDF + nursery art
Everything in one printable report. Frame the name art.
Start with a free preview
Playground safety check is free. Full report is $9.
What do you want to do with this name?
What kind of baby name person are you?
3 minutes to find names that fit your style.
Take the Quiz
Things to Know About This Name
- Twilight association — Jacob Black is a major character in the series (since 2005)
The Story of Jacob
Jacob comes from the Hebrew 'Yaakov', meaning 'he who supplants' or 'holder of the heel'. In Genesis, Jacob was born grasping his twin brother Esau's heel, and later supplanted Esau's birthright and blessing. God later renamed him Israel, making Jacob the patriarch of the twelve tribes and the namesake of the entire nation.
Jacob held the #1 spot in the US for an unprecedented 14 consecutive years from 1999 to 2012, driven by a wave of biblical name popularity. Its eventual decline from the very top came partly from pure oversaturation and partly from competition with variations like Liam and Noah.
In Judaism, Jacob/Israel is the third patriarch and father of the twelve sons who became the twelve tribes of Israel. In the Bible's most dramatic wrestling match, Jacob wrestles an angel until dawn and refuses to let go until he receives a blessing — becoming a symbol of spiritual tenacity.
Historical Record
Jacob first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 945,784 babies have been named Jacob in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Jacob is past its peak , currently ranked #41 for boy names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Jacob was the #1 boys name in the US for 14 consecutive years (1999-2012)
- Jacob and James are etymologically the same name — both derive from Hebrew Yaakov
- The phrase 'Jacob's ladder' for tall flowering plants comes from the biblical story
Jacob in Other Languages
Arabic
يعقوب
French
Jacques
German
Jakob
Hebrew
יַעֲקֹב
Italian
Giacomo
Russian
Яков
Spanish
Jacobo
Popularity Over Time
#41
Current Rank
Stable
Trend
Peaked 1999
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Jacob
J
Jake Gyllenhaal
Actor
1980
American actor known for Brokeback Mountain, Donnie Darko, and Nightcrawler
J
Jacob Grimm
Folklorist and linguist
1785
German scholar who co-authored Grimm's Fairy Tales with his brother Wilhelm and developed Grimm's Law of sound shifts
J
Jacob (Biblical patriarch)
Religious
Third patriarch of Judaism, renamed Israel by God, father of the twelve tribes of Israel
J
Jacob Black Fictional
Other
Central werewolf character in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series, portrayed by Taylor Lautner in the films
Names You Might Also Love
See all →Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #41
- Total SSA Count
- 6,496
- Cultural Origins
- English Jewish German Dutch Scandinavian
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Popular in These States
Top states by rank · 2024
Common Nicknames
Jake
Jakey
Jay
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Jacob
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
Premium
Check how Jacob fits with existing sibling names — style, sound, and origin.
Enter sibling names above to see compatibility.
Also a Girl Name
Jacob is also used as a girl name, ranked #13764.
View Jacob as a girl name →Similar Names
See all names like Jacob →Compare Jacob with...
Same Origin Names (English)
See all English names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Jacob
Can't decide?
Start a tournament bracket with Jacob and other names you're considering.
Start a TournamentLike this name?
Check how Jacob sounds with your surname and test for potential nicknames.
Analyze This NameExplore More Generators
-
🧝
Fantasy Name Generator
Create names for D&D and RPG characters
-
🐾
Pet Name Generator
Find the perfect name for your furry friend
-
🎭
Character Name Generator
Names for fictional characters across genres
Names You Might Also Like
View all →
Arlo
Boy
English origin
"of uncertain origin, possibly barberr..."
#146 in US
Isaiah
Boy
Hebrew origin
"the Lord saves"
#56 in US
Evan
Boy
Welsh form of John origin
"God is gracious"
#143 in US
Theo
Boy
Greek theos origin
"divine"
#80 in US
Elliot
Boy
Hebrew origin
"my God is the Lord"
#150 in US
Ryker
Boy
Dutch origin
"rich, powerful"
#183 in US
Luke
Boy
Latin origin
"man from Lucania (region of Italy)"
#34 in US
Maverick
Boy
American English origin
"independent thinker, nonconformist"
#36 in US
Save Your Name Card
Download a shareable image with Jacob's meaning, origin, and popularity. Ready for Instagram, Pinterest, or texting to your partner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jacob
What does the name Jacob mean?
"Supplanter; one who follows at the heel" (from Hebrew). "From Hebrew 'Yaakov'; the biblical patriarch who wrestled with an angel and was renamed Israel" (from Biblical). "supplanter, one who supplants" (from Hebrew). "holder of the heel" (from Biblical Hebrew). "may God protect" (from Alternative Hebrew interpretation). Jacob comes from the Hebrew 'Yaakov', meaning 'he who supplants' or 'holder of the heel'. In Genesis, Jacob was born grasping his twin brother Esau's heel, and later supplanted Esau's birthright and blessing. God later renamed him Israel, making Jacob the patriarch of the twelve tribes and the namesake of the entire nation.
What is the origin of the name Jacob?
Jacob has Hebrew, Biblical, Biblical Hebrew, Alternative Hebrew interpretation, English, Jewish, German, Dutch, and Scandinavian origins. In Hebrew, it means "Supplanter; one who follows at the heel". In Biblical, it means "From Hebrew 'Yaakov'; the biblical patriarch who wrestled with an angel and was renamed Israel". In Hebrew, it means "supplanter, one who supplants". In Biblical Hebrew, it means "holder of the heel". In Alternative Hebrew interpretation, it means "may God protect".
Is Jacob a boy or girl name?
Jacob is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #41. As a girl name, it is ranked #13764. Jacob is more commonly used as a boy name.
How do you pronounce Jacob?
Jacob is pronounced j-AYK-uhb.
How popular is the name Jacob?
Jacob is currently ranked #41 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Jacob?
Common nicknames for Jacob include Jake, Jakey, and Jay.
What are good middle names for Jacob?
Popular middle name pairings include Jacob Alexander, Jacob William, Jacob Thomas, Jacob Michael, Jacob David, Jacob Robert, and Jacob James.
What are good sibling names for Jacob?
Names that pair well with Jacob as siblings include Noah, Elijah, Isaac, Hannah, Rachel, Leah, and Emma.
How many syllables does Jacob have?
Jacob has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Jacob a common or rare name?
Jacob is a very popular name, ranked #41 among boy names in the United States.
What boy names are similar to Jacob?
About the Name Jacob
Jacob is a boy name with English, Jewish, German, Dutch, and Scandinavian origins . The name means "Supplanter; one who follows at the heel" in Hebrew .
Is Jacob a boy or girl name? Jacob is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #41 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #13,764. Jacob is more commonly used as a boy name.
Jacob is currently ranked #41 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Jacob has 2 syllables and is pronounced j-AYK-uhb, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Jacob include Jake, Jakey, and Jay. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Jacob include Jacoby, Jacobo, Jacobi . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
Keep Exploring
Hebrew Names
Browse all names with this origin
J
Names Starting with J
More boy names like Jacob
Classic Names
Well-known names that stand the test of time
Name Personality Quiz
Find names that match your style
Name Swiper
Swipe through names, build a shortlist fast
Browse All Boy Names
Full list with filters and sorting
Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis