Jacob
Jacob is a girl's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
Supplanter, or held by the heel.
Origin and history
Jacob is traditionally a masculine name derived from the Hebrew Ya'akov, meaning 'supplanter' or 'held by the heel'. Though predominantly used for boys, it has recorded rare feminine usage in the United States. Its usage for females remains uncommon, functioning primarily as an intentional gender-neutral or surname-derived choice.
Popularity in the United States
2,305 babies in the United States have been named Jacob since 1880. It ranks #3670 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #2059.
States where it is most popular
- CA (30.1 %)
- KY (22.8 %)
- TX (13.1 %)
- NY (7 %)
- OH (6.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 15 |
| 1920-1930 | 20 |
| 1930-1940 | 17 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 5 |
| 1960-1970 | 5 |
| 1970-1980 | 206 |
| 1980-1990 | 694 |
| 1990-2000 | 592 |
| 2000-2010 | 523 |
| 2010-2019 | 186 |
| 2020-2029 | 42 |
Nicknames
Jake, Jakey, Coby
Fun facts
- The name originates from the Hebrew verb 'akav', referring to holding the heel of his twin brother Esau at birth.
- While historically masculine, Jacob has appeared in U.S. female birth records over two thousand times since 1880.