Jacob Boy

Popularity: #41 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

PronunciationJAY-kub / /ˈdʒeɪ.kəb/

Hebrew; English

Meaning

Hebrew: Supplanter; English: Holder of the heel

Historical & Cultural Background

Jacob is a name of Hebrew origin, derived from the biblical figure Jacob, who is known for his role in the Book of Genesis. The name has been widely used in various cultures and languages, particularly in Christian and Jewish communities. It has remained popular throughout history and has been borne by many notable figures. The name's enduring appeal can be attributed to its strong biblical roots and its association with qualities such as resilience and determination.

Trend Summary

Jacob has consistently ranked among the top names for boys in the United States over the past few decades.

Similar Names

JamesJoshuaJaredJaxonJulianJasperJettJace

Variants

  • Jakob
  • Jacques
  • Jake

International Variants

  • Yaqub (Arabic)
  • Jakob (German)
  • Jacques (French)
  • Giacomo (Italian)
  • Iago (Spanish)

Famous people named Jacob

Jacob Grimm was a German philologist and folklorist, known for his collection of fairy tales.

Jacob Lawrence was an influential African American painter, recognized for his portrayal of African American history.

Jacob Rees-Mogg is a British politician, known for his role as a Member of Parliament and former Leader of the House of Commons.

Jacob deGrom is a professional baseball pitcher, known for his achievements in Major League Baseball.

Fictional characters named Jacob

Jacob Black is a character in the 'Twilight' series, known for being a werewolf and a love interest of the protagonist.

Jacob Marley is a character in Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol', known as the ghost who warns Ebenezer Scrooge.

Sibling Suggestions

EthanNoahMasonLiamAidenLucasCaleb

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Jacob was first seen in the United States in 1880. Jacob has ranked as high as #2 nationally, which occurred in 1998, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Ohio, and Illinois. In the past 5 years the name Jacob has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Jacob (2024)

StateBirthsShare
CA 856
14%
TX 719
12%
NY 646
11%
FL 451
7%
PA 237
4%
NC 220
4%
GA 201
3%
IL 199
3%
OH 186
3%
VA 184
3%
MA 158
3%
MD 146
2%
AZ 138
2%
MI 131
2%
TN 131
2%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

YearBirths
1880404
1881381
1882390
1883356
1884381
1885343
1886346
1887317
1888353
1889295
1890290
1891238
1892283
1893292
1894292
1895266
1896241
1897204
1898256
1899189
1900233
1901172
1902207
1903189
1904243
1905220
1906187
1907243
1908235
1909262
1910273
1911323
1912691
1913744
1914997
19151,122
19161,132
19171,122
19181,198
19191,082
19201,050
19211,094
19221,027
1923975
1924970
1925901
1926810
1927855
1928718
1929647
1930622
1931572
1932558
1933539
1934547
1935475
1936500
1937536
1938488
1939427
1940514
1941466
1942524
1943476
1944437
1945417
1946457
1947522
1948550
1949490
1950465
1951502
1952561
1953590
1954563
1955577
1956538
1957540
1958506
1959558
1960492
1961506
1962474
1963487
1964522
1965489
1966454
1967447
1968553
1969656
1970910
19711,056
19721,682
19732,124
19742,958
19753,619
19764,509
19775,789
19786,162
19797,546
19808,522
19819,345
198210,061
198310,998
198411,357
198512,286
198613,651
198714,326
198815,883
198917,834
199022,023
199125,197
199225,667
199327,485
199429,419
199531,134
199631,924
199734,163
199836,027
199935,371
200034,491
200132,573
200230,586
200329,658
200427,906
200525,851
200624,867
200724,308
200822,622
200921,202
201022,154
201120,401
201219,104
201318,196
201416,916
201515,999
201614,554
201713,265
201811,891
201910,786
20209,306
20218,481
20227,658
20237,005
20246,496