Jacob name Meaning and Dictionary
- Name
- Jacob
- Name Meaning
- "Jacob" English form of the Hebrew name Yaakov, which could be from the Hebrew words aqev or aqab, meaning "heel" or "supplanter".
- Definition
- Jacob, later given the name Israel, is regarded as a Patriarch of the Israelites.
- Holder of the heel
- Jacob, Name of a Company
- A male given name: from a Hebrew word meaning “supplanter.â€.
- Pronunciations
- Ja-cob
- ja-cob
- JAY-kuhb
- YA-kuhb
- jey-kuh b for 1
- IPA Notation
- ʤejˈkʌb
- Syllable
- Jacob Syllable count: There are 2 syllables in the name Jacob
- Divide Jacob into syllables: Ja-cob
- Stressed syllable in Jacob: Ja-cob
Jacob Overview and Analysis
Jacob Gender statistics
The name Jacob is typically used for Boys. Its a Masculine name with clear gender identification.
Popularity of the name Jacob
The name Jacob is classified as Common and ranked at the 39th most popular name in the Namedary database.
| Country | In-Country Rank | Population Share |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 23 | 0.49% |
| Canada | 29 | 0.41% |
| United States | 45 | 0.3% |
| Australia | 58 | 0.35% |
| New Zealand | 104 | 0.21% |
Where to find Jacob?
The name Jacob is predominantly found in United Kingdom (UK), particularly in the state of East Wales (EW), where it constitutes 0.56% of the total population.
Jacob Usage Trend Over Time
In recent years, the trend of using the name Jacob has been Decreasing gradually. The name Jacob was most used in 1998 with a usage rate of 3.7%. It was least used in 1910 with a usage rate of 0.02%.
To enhance readability, percentage is rounded up. Values less than 0.0015% have been omitted.The data is carefully curated from authentic human sources and thoroughly analyzed from a wide range of sources.
Similar Names to Jacob
Names with a Similar Sound to Jacob
Here is a list of names that share a similar sound to Jacob:
These are 53 names that sound like Jacob. Explore them all here!
Two Syllable Names Similar to Jacob
Here is a list of 2 syllable baby names that have the same syllable structure as Jacob:
Explore over 75500+ Two syllable baby names inspired by Jacob. View all here!
Names starting with J
The name Jacob begins with the letter J. Here is a list of names that start with the letter J, similar to Jacob:
Discover over 9,200+ Names beginning with the letter J in our extensive name database. Explore the complete list here!
Origin and History of the name Jacob
From the Latin Iacob, which was from the Greek Ἰακώβ (Iakob), which was from the Hebrew name יַעֲקֹב (Ya'aqov).
In the Old Testament Jacob (later called Israel) is the son of Isaac and Rebecca and the father of the twelve founders of the twelve tribes of Israel.
He was born holding his twin brother Esau's heel, and his name is explained as meaning "holder of the heel" or "supplanter", because he twice deprived his brother of his rights as the firstborn son (see Genesis 27:36).
Other theories claim that it is in fact derived from a hypothetical name like יַעֲקֹבְאֵל (Ya'aqov'el) meaning "may God protect".
The English names Jacob and James derive from the same source, with James coming from Latin Iacomus, a later variant of the Latin New Testament form Iacobus.
Unlike English, many languages do not have separate spellings for the two names.
In England, Jacob was mainly regarded as a Jewish name during the Middle Ages [1], though the variant James was used among Christians.
Jacob came into general use as a Christian name after the Protestant Reformation.
In America, although already moderately common, it steadily grew in popularity from the early 1970s to the end of the 1990s, becoming the top ranked name from 1999 to 2012.
A famous bearer was Jacob Grimm (1785-1863), the German linguist and writer who was, with his brother Wilhelm, the author of Grimm's Fairy Tales.
Emotion and Symbolism of the Name Jacob
Jacob Emotional Perception
Jacob is a very refined and wholesome name. It feels trustworthy and warm.
Symbolic Meaning of Jacob
The name Jacob means supplanter or holder of the heel because the Bible shares that the first Jacob held his twin Esau's heel in the womb. He was always stealing from Esau prior to his name change, however, even stealing the birthright from him.
Jacob in Numerology
| J | A | C | O | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | |||
| 1 | 3 | 2 |
Applying the rules of numerology (Pythagorean numerology):
- Soul Number (Heart's Desire Number): Number 7
- Expression Number (Personality Number): Number 6
- Destiny Number (Life Path Number): Number 4
Famous people named Jacob
- Jacob A. Marinsky, Chemist
- Jacob Arabo, Hip Hop Artists
- Jacob Baxter, Canadian Politician
- Jacob Ben Asher, Rabbi, Talmudist
- Jacob Emden, Rabbi
- Jacob Epstein, American Sculptor
- Jacob Finkelstein (jackie Fields), American World Champion Welterweight
- Jacob Grimm, German Philologist
- Jacob J. Shubert, Theater Producer
- Jacob Kogan, American Child Actor
- Jacob L. Devers, American General
- Jacob M. Appel, Bioethicist
- Jacob Maris, Dutch Painter
- Jacob Moon, Canadian Folk Musician
- Jacob Neusner, Academic Scholar Of Judaism
- Jacob Riis, Danish-american Muckraker Journalist, Photographer, And Social Reformer
- Jacob Thompson, Former Us Congressman
Conclusions about the name Jacob
Should you named your son Jacob?
According to the gender statistics, the name Jacob is strongly associated with boys. This is because the name Jacob is most commonly given to boys. As a result, people will generally assume that a baby named Jacob is a boy.
Jacob is a gender-appropriate name for a son. However, it is not a gender-appropriate name for a daughter.
Is Jacob a good name?
The name Jacob strike a harmonious balance between being easy to pronounce and possessing a touch of personality. The name Jacob offer a pleasing cadence and a hint of individuality, making them a popular choice for parents.
What are the Pros and Cons of the name Jacob?
Pros of the name Jacob:
- Uniqueness: Even though Jacob is decreasing in popularity, it is still not extremely rare, so your child will not be the only one with their name.
- Potential for nostalgia: Jacob may bring back fond memories for older generations.
- Familiarity: Jacob is easy to recognize and remember, so it's unlikely to cause any confusion or difficulties with spelling or pronunciation.
- Reduced risk of teasing or bullying: Having a common name can minimize the chances of your child being teased or bullied due to their name.
- Sense of belonging: Sharing the name Jacob with many others can foster a sense of belonging and connection to a broader community.
Cons of the name Jacob:
- Decreasing popularity: Jacob may become less popular over time, making your child feel like they have an outdated or out-of-fashion name.
- Potential for negative connotations: Some people may associate Jacob with outdated trends or stereotypes, which could lead to negative perceptions of your child.
- Lack of individuality: A common name may not provide the same level of individuality or uniqueness as a rarer name.
- Difficulty standing out: With many people sharing the same name Jacob, it might be harder for your child to stand out and make their own unique mark.
- Potential for confusion: In large groups or settings, the name Jacob could lead to confusion in identifying individuals.
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to name your child Jacob is a personal one. There is no right or wrong answer. Consider all of the factors listed above, and make the decision that you and your partner feel is best for your child.