Boy name · Hebrew
Jacob
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: supplanter, holder of the heelJacob is a boy's name that comes from Hebrew and means "supplanter, holder of the heel". It is used in English.
- Meaning
- Supplanter, holder of the heel
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #43 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Jacob
As a boy's name, Jacob comes from Hebrew and means "supplanter, holder of the heel". It is used in English.
Jacob is also a surname: the 1,367th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 25,360 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Jacob on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Jacob on 2 lists.
“Holder of the heel in Genesis, perhaps originally may God protect; Hebrew. Father of the twelve tribes”
From Biblical names, biblical names for boys
“Supplanter, holder of the heel; Hebrew. The father of the twelve tribes”
From Classic boy names, classic biblical boy names
How popular is Jacob?
- US rank in 2025
- #43
- 6,152 babies, 3,602 per million boys
- Best rank
- #1 in 1999
- Most babies: 36,031 in 1998
- Babies since 1880
- At least 988,227
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 3,255 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 2,236 per million |
| 1900s | 1,614 per million |
| 1910s | 1,301 per million |
| 1920s | 821 per million |
| 1930s | 498 per million |
| 1940s | 326 per million |
| 1950s | 267 per million |
| 1960s | 263 per million |
| 1970s | 2,201 per million |
| 1980s | 6,731 per million |
| 1990s | 15,319 per million |
| 2000s | 13,731 per million |
| 2010s | 8,686 per million |
| 2020s | 4,360 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7 | #9 | #13 | #12 | #15 | #24 | #32 | #35 | #40 | #43 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Nicknames for Jacob
Established short forms and pet names, not made-up ones.
- Jakecommon English nickname
- Jaycommon English nickname
Other forms of Jacob
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- GiacomoSupplanter, holder of the heel (Hebrew, boy)
- HamishSupplanter, holder of the heel (Hebrew, boy)
- IakovosSupplanter, holder of the heel (Hebrew, boy)
- JacopoSupplanter, holder of the heel (Hebrew, boy)
- JacquesSupplanter, holder of the heel (Hebrew, boy)
- JakobSupplanter, holder of the heel (Hebrew, boy)
- JakubSupplanter, holder of the heel (Hebrew, boy)
- JamesSupplanter, holder of the heel (Hebrew, boy)
- JamieSupplanter, holder of the heel (Hebrew, unisex)
- JimmySupplanter, holder of the heel (Hebrew, boy)
- KimoSupplanter, holder of the heel (Hebrew, boy)
- SeamusSupplanter, holder of the heel (Hebrew, boy)
Names spelled like Jacob
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
Names with a similar meaning
- JacquelineSupplanter, holder of the heel (Hebrew, girl)
- AkivaFrom Yaakov, holder of the heel (Aramaic, boy)
- IakopaSupplanter (Hebrew, boy)
- JackieSupplanter (Hebrew, girl)
- Jacques-YvesSupplanter, plus yew tree (Hebrew and Germanic, boy)
- JamesinaSupplanter, holder of the heel (Hebrew, girl)
- Jean-JacquesGod is gracious, plus supplanter (Hebrew, boy)
- SeumasSupplanter, holder of the heel (Hebrew, boy)
- TiagoSupplanter, holder of the heel (Hebrew, boy)
- YaakovSupplanter, holder of the heel (Hebrew, boy)
- YakovSupplanter, holder of the heel (Hebrew, boy)
- YaqubHolder of the heel (Hebrew, boy)
- YashaShort form of Yakov, supplanter (Hebrew, boy)
Middle names for Jacob
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Hebrew
- AdamMan, humankind (Hebrew, boy)
- DavidBeloved one (Hebrew, boy)
- DanielGod is my judge (Hebrew, boy)
- NoahRest, repose (Hebrew, boy)
- EliasMy God is Yahweh (Hebrew, boy)
- GabrielGod is my strength (Hebrew, boy)
- AxelMy father is peace (Hebrew, boy)
- BenjaminSon of the right hand (Hebrew, boy)
- IsaacHe will laugh (Hebrew, boy)
- JanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- JonathanYahweh has given (Hebrew, boy)
- SamuelName of God (Hebrew, boy)
- SimonHe has heard (Hebrew, boy)
- AaronProbably Egyptian, meaning unknown; Hebrew theories say exalted (Hebrew, boy)
- AbelBreath (Hebrew, boy)
- BenSon of the right hand (Hebrew, boy)
- EthanFirm, enduring (Hebrew, boy)
- IbrahimFather of many nations (Hebrew, boy)
Jacob: common questions
What does the name Jacob mean?
Jacob comes from Hebrew and means "supplanter, holder of the heel".
Is Jacob a boy or girl name?
Jacob is mainly a boy's name.
What are nicknames for Jacob?
Common nicknames for Jacob include Jake and Jay.
How popular is the name Jacob?
Jacob ranked #43 in the US in 2025, with 6,152 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Jacob?
Forms of Jacob with the same meaning and origin include Giacomo (Italian), Hamish (Scottish), Iakovos (Greek), Jacopo (Italian) and Jacques (French).
What middle names go with Jacob?
Middle names that flow well with Jacob include Abraham, Anderson, Burton, Emmett and Grant. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.