Jakob Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: YAH-kob //ˈjɑː.kɒb//
Origin: Hebrew; German; Scandinavian
Meaning: Hebrew: Supplanter; German: He who supplants; Scandinavian: Variant of Jacob
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Jakob is derived from the Hebrew name Ya'aqov (יַעֲקֹב), which means "to follow" or "to supplant." This name appears in the Hebrew Bible, where Jacob is a significant patriarch, the son of Isaac and Rebecca, and the grandson of Abraham. The name was transliterated into Greek as Iakōb (Ἰακώβ) and subsequently into Latin as Iacobus.
From Latin, it evolved into Old French as Jacop and later into Middle English as Jakob, which ultimately became the modern English form Jacob. Historically, the name Jakob has been borne by numerous notable figures, including saints and rulers.
One of the most prominent is Saint James, who is often associated with the name due to the Latin form Iacobus. The name gained further prominence through the translation of the Bible into various languages, particularly the King James Version in the early 17th century, which helped solidify its presence in English-speaking cultures.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name was frequently used among European nobility and clergy, contributing to its enduring legacy. Culturally, Jakob has been associated with various symbolic meanings, including the themes of struggle and perseverance, as exemplified by the biblical Jacob's wrestling with an angel.
The name has also been linked to the idea of divine protection and guidance, reflecting the biblical narrative of Jacob's dream of a ladder reaching to heaven. Diminutive forms such as Jake or Jakey have emerged, though they are not as historically significant as the full name.
Overall, Jakob's rich etymological roots and historical significance have ensured its lasting presence in various cultures.
Famous people named Jakob
In this section, you will find notable people named Jakob. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Jakob who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Jakob who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Jakob Dylan is a musician best known for being the lead singer of The Wallflowers and for the song One Headlight.
Jakob Fuglsang is a professional cyclist best known for winning the 2019 Liège–Bastogne–Liège and the 2018 Critérium du Dauphiné.
Jakob Poeltl is a professional basketball player best known for playing as a center for the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA.
Jakob Nielsen is a web usability consultant best known for co-founding Nielsen Norman Group and his work on usability heuristics.
Jakob von Uexküll is a biologist best known for his work in biosemiotics and the concept of Umwelt.
Fictional characters named Jakob
The following list of fictional characters named Jakob is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Jakob is a fictional character from the video game series Spec Ops. He is a soldier who grapples with the moral complexities of warfare and leadership.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Jakob, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Jakob. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Jakob was first seen in the United States in 1957.
Jakob has ranked as high as #309 nationally, which occurred in 2001, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Illinois, Florida, and New York.
In the past 5 years the name Jakob has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Jakob is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Jakob was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Jakob (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 27 | |
| CA | 16 | |
| NY | 15 | |
| FL | 12 | |
| IL | 9 | |
| MI | 9 | |
| CT | 7 | |
| MO | 6 | |
| OH | 5 | |
| MD | 5 | |
| AZ | 5 | |
| NC | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Jakob.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 190 |
| 2023 | 186 |
| 2022 | 227 |
| 2021 | 281 |
| 2020 | 256 |
| 2019 | 312 |
| 2018 | 344 |
| 2017 | 404 |
| 2016 | 476 |
| 2015 | 548 |
| 2014 | 645 |
| 2013 | 711 |
| 2012 | 742 |
| 2011 | 910 |
| 2010 | 1,097 |
| 2009 | 989 |
| 2008 | 1,083 |
| 2007 | 1,108 |
| 2006 | 1,158 |
| 2005 | 1,215 |
| 2004 | 1,416 |
| 2003 | 1,607 |
| 2002 | 1,836 |
| 2001 | 2,192 |
| 2000 | 2,161 |
| 1999 | 1,693 |
| 1998 | 1,784 |
| 1997 | 1,387 |
| 1996 | 611 |
| 1995 | 561 |
| 1994 | 530 |
| 1993 | 487 |
| 1992 | 436 |
| 1991 | 368 |
| 1990 | 306 |
| 1989 | 249 |
| 1988 | 179 |
| 1987 | 148 |
| 1986 | 146 |
| 1985 | 83 |
| 1984 | 84 |
| 1983 | 89 |
| 1982 | 78 |
| 1981 | 80 |
| 1980 | 78 |
| 1979 | 62 |
| 1978 | 46 |
| 1977 | 49 |
| 1976 | 27 |
| 1975 | 33 |
| 1974 | 27 |
| 1973 | 11 |
| 1972 | 17 |
| 1971 | 11 |
| 1970 | 6 |
| 1968 | 6 |
| 1967 | 9 |
| 1966 | 5 |
| 1964 | 6 |
| 1963 | 5 |
| 1962 | 6 |
| 1961 | 5 |
| 1959 | 6 |
| 1958 | 6 |
| 1957 | 7 |