Jacob
Jacob: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈd͡ʒeɪkəb/
Meaning and origin of Jacob
- A male given name from Hebrew.
Etymology
From Middle English Iacob, from Late Latin Iācōbus, from Ancient Greek Ἰάκωβος (Iákōbos), from Biblical Hebrew יַעֲקֹב (yaʿăqōḇ, literally “May He Heel”), from the third-person singular masculine imperfective form of the Semitic verb "to heel" (with various meanings), in turn from עָקֵב (ʿāqēḇ, “heel of the foot”). Doublet of James, Yaakov, and Yakub.
How popular is Jacob?
Since 1880, 2,305 girls and 988,227 boys in the U.S. have been named Jacob (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1263 in 2004. Its highest rank for boys was #1 in 1999. In 2025 it ranked #43 for boys, with 6,152 babies given the name.
Names similar to Jacob
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Hebrew boy names
Sibling name ideas for Jacob
Sister and brother names that share Jacob's Hebrew roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Jacob FAQ
What does the name Jacob mean?
A male given name from Hebrew. From Middle English Iacob, from Late Latin Iācōbus, from Ancient Greek Ἰάκωβος (Iákōbos), from Biblical Hebrew יַעֲקֹב (yaʿăqōḇ, literally “May He Heel”), from the third-person singular masculine imperfective form of the Semitic verb "to heel" (with various meanings), in turn from עָקֵב (ʿāqēḇ, “heel of the foot”). Doublet of James, Yaakov, and Yakub.
What is the origin of the name Jacob?
Jacob is listed as a name of Hebrew origin.
How popular is the name Jacob?
Since 1880, 2,305 girls and 988,227 boys in the U.S. have been named Jacob (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1263 in 2004. Its highest rank for boys was #1 in 1999. In 2025 it ranked #43 for boys, with 6,152 babies given the name.
Is Jacob a boy or girl name?
Jacob is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 2,305 girls and 988,227 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.