Jacob
Jacob is a boy's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
Supplanter; one who follows at the heel.
Origin and history
Jacob is a classic male name of Hebrew origin, meaning 'supplanter' or 'held by the heel'. It has deep biblical roots as a key patriarch in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions. In the United States, it has been a consistently popular name for decades, ranking among the top choices for boys.
Popularity in the United States
988,227 babies in the United States have been named Jacob since 1880. It ranks #29 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #30.
States where it is most popular
- CA (11.3 %)
- TX (8.5 %)
- NY (5.4 %)
- OH (4.7 %)
- IL (4.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 3,566 |
| 1890-1900 | 2,551 |
| 1900-1910 | 2,191 |
| 1910-1920 | 8,684 |
| 1920-1930 | 9,047 |
| 1930-1940 | 5,264 |
| 1940-1950 | 4,853 |
| 1950-1960 | 5,400 |
| 1960-1970 | 5,075 |
| 1970-1980 | 36,351 |
| 1980-1990 | 124,254 |
| 1990-2000 | 298,415 |
| 2000-2010 | 274,077 |
| 2010-2019 | 163,321 |
| 2020-2029 | 45,178 |
Famous people named Jacob
- Jacob deGrom: Baseball Player, Athlete
- Jacob Elordi: Actor
- Jacob Riis: Journalist, Photographer
Nicknames
Jake, Jakey, Coby, Jay
Fun facts
- Jacob was the single most popular name for baby boys in the United States from 1999 through 2012.
- The name originates from the Hebrew Ya'akov, referring to Jacob holding his twin brother Esau's heel at birth.