"Supplanter; one who follows at the heel"
Origin: Hebrew
Language: Hebrew
Jacob
Pronunciation: [ j-AYK-uhb ]
Boy Name
#41 Most Popular
Steady
2 Syllables
The patriarch who wrestled with angels
English
Jewish
German
Dutch
Scandinavian
Classic
Traditional
Strong
Spiritual
Sophisticated
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
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.
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
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
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
Common Nicknames
Jake
Jakey
Jay
Pairs Well With
Jacob Alexander
Jacob William
Jacob Thomas
Jacob Michael
Jacob David
Jacob Robert
Jacob James
Sibling Names
Also a Girl Name
Jacob is also used as a girl name, ranked #13764.
View Jacob as a girl name →Similar Names
Playground Safety
Kid-Friendly
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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.
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.