Jacob
Meaning: not confirmed (origin debated)
About the name Jacob
The origin of Jacob is debated, and we couldn't confirm its meaning from a sourced etymology. A commonly cited theory links it to Hebrew roots, with the meaning “Supplanter; held by the heel”. Treat that as a theory, not a settled fact.
Why we say this: we only state a meaning as fact when a sourced etymology (Wiktionary, with its references) supports it. For Jacob we didn't find one we were confident in, so we show the popular explanation as a theory.
It has a classic feel. In 2025, Jacob ranked #43 for boys in the US, with 6,152 babies given the name. Its peak year since 1940 was 1998. Since 2000, 100% of US babies named Jacob were boys.
- US rank 2025
- #43
- In 2015
- #4
- Babies in 2025
- 6,152
Popularity of Jacob, 1940–2025
Latest SSA data: 2025.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby names (public domain; names given to at least 5 babies of one sex per year).
Nicknames for Jacob
- Jake
Names similar to Jacob
Name meanings marked or linked “Wiktionary” are adapted from Wiktionary by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; each name page links its source entry.