Job Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: JOHB //dʒoʊb//
Origin: Hebrew; English
Meaning: Hebrew: persecuted; English: servant
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Job has its roots in the Hebrew language, derived from the name "Iyov" (אִיּוֹב), which is believed to mean "persecuted" or "hated." This name appears in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the Book of Job, which is one of the oldest texts in the biblical canon, dating back to the 6th century BCE. The narrative centers around Job, a man of great faith who endures immense suffering and loss, ultimately leading to profound discussions about faith, justice, and the nature of suffering.
The name was subsequently transliterated into Greek as "Iob" and then into Latin as "Job," before entering the English language through translations of the Bible, particularly the King James Version in the early 17th century. Throughout history, Job has been a significant figure in religious and literary contexts.
His story has been interpreted in various ways across different cultures and religious traditions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In Christianity, Job is often viewed as a symbol of patience and endurance in the face of adversity, which has led to the term "the patience of Job" being used to describe someone who remains steadfast despite difficulties.
The Book of Job has also inspired countless works of art, literature, and theology, influencing writers and thinkers from antiquity to the modern era. Culturally, the name Job carries connotations of resilience and faithfulness, reflecting the character's unwavering belief in divine justice despite his trials.
The name has been used in various forms in literature and religious texts, reinforcing its significance. While diminutive forms or variations are less common, the name's historical and cultural weight has ensured its endurance through centuries, making it a notable name in both religious and literary traditions.
Famous people named Job
In this section, you will find notable people named Job. 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 Job who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Job 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.
Job is a biblical figure best known for his story of suffering and faith in the Book of Job.
Fictional characters named Job
The following list of fictional characters named Job 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.
Job is a fictional character from the biblical text Book of Job. He is a wealthy man who endures immense suffering and maintains his faith in God throughout his trials.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Job, 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 Job. 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 Job was first seen in the United States in 1891.
Job has ranked as high as #1253 nationally, which occurred in 2004, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Georgia.
In the past 5 years the name Job has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Job 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 Job was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Job (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 | 10 | |
| CA | 8 | |
| WA | 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 Job.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 61 |
| 2023 | 42 |
| 2022 | 67 |
| 2021 | 58 |
| 2020 | 52 |
| 2019 | 59 |
| 2018 | 61 |
| 2017 | 59 |
| 2016 | 81 |
| 2015 | 87 |
| 2014 | 82 |
| 2013 | 71 |
| 2012 | 66 |
| 2011 | 72 |
| 2010 | 65 |
| 2009 | 61 |
| 2008 | 71 |
| 2007 | 72 |
| 2006 | 77 |
| 2005 | 77 |
| 2004 | 89 |
| 2003 | 82 |
| 2002 | 77 |
| 2001 | 66 |
| 2000 | 87 |
| 1999 | 87 |
| 1998 | 76 |
| 1997 | 73 |
| 1996 | 71 |
| 1995 | 60 |
| 1994 | 47 |
| 1993 | 51 |
| 1992 | 47 |
| 1991 | 55 |
| 1990 | 47 |
| 1989 | 40 |
| 1988 | 30 |
| 1987 | 45 |
| 1986 | 32 |
| 1985 | 30 |
| 1984 | 27 |
| 1983 | 40 |
| 1982 | 33 |
| 1981 | 31 |
| 1980 | 32 |
| 1979 | 26 |
| 1978 | 39 |
| 1977 | 25 |
| 1976 | 36 |
| 1975 | 34 |
| 1974 | 40 |
| 1973 | 29 |
| 1972 | 26 |
| 1971 | 15 |
| 1970 | 8 |
| 1969 | 9 |
| 1968 | 17 |
| 1967 | 17 |
| 1966 | 5 |
| 1965 | 10 |
| 1964 | 12 |
| 1963 | 11 |
| 1962 | 13 |
| 1961 | 10 |
| 1960 | 10 |
| 1959 | 7 |
| 1958 | 5 |
| 1957 | 12 |
| 1956 | 12 |
| 1955 | 12 |
| 1954 | 8 |
| 1952 | 9 |
| 1951 | 8 |
| 1950 | 8 |
| 1949 | 7 |
| 1948 | 11 |
| 1947 | 6 |
| 1945 | 5 |
| 1943 | 9 |
| 1939 | 5 |
| 1936 | 7 |
| 1934 | 10 |
| 1932 | 7 |
| 1931 | 9 |
| 1930 | 11 |
| 1929 | 10 |
| 1926 | 6 |
| 1925 | 8 |
| 1924 | 8 |
| 1923 | 6 |
| 1920 | 8 |
| 1919 | 9 |
| 1918 | 6 |
| 1917 | 7 |
| 1916 | 8 |
| 1915 | 6 |
| 1914 | 6 |
| 1891 | 6 |