Fun Facts About the Name Jacob
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 988,092 boys named Jacob from 1880 through 2025.
- Back among the favorites: Jacob returned to the U.S. top 100 in 1883 and stayed there for 52 consecutive years, through 2025.
- Still popular, but losing ground: Jacob's rank fell 39 places between 1995 and 2025, while remaining in the top 100.
- More than 990 thousand babies named Jacob: U.S. records list 990,397 babies given the name Jacob from 1880 through 2025. Even 2,305 girls received the name Jacob - about 1 girl for every 429 boys.
What Does the Name Jacob Mean?
Jacob is a Hebrew name, Yaʿaqov (יַעֲקֹב), traditionally given the meaning "supplanter" or "heel-holder." The book of Genesis links the name to ʿaqev ("heel") and to the verb ʿaqav, which carries senses of taking hold by the heel, supplanting, or overreaching. In Genesis 25:26 the newborn Jacob comes out gripping his twin brother's heel, and the narrator turns that detail into a wordplay on the name; the following chapter has Jacob taking the blessing meant for Esau.
That wordplay is an explanation built into the story rather than proof of the name's origin. Some scholars instead treat Yaʿaqov as a shortened theophoric name of the type Yaʿaqov-El, roughly "may God protect," from a root meaning to guard. Second-millennium West Semitic personal names of similar shape, including forms written in Akkadian cuneiform, are sometimes cited in support. The precise derivation remains uncertain, and the "supplanter" sense is the customary interpretation rather than a settled literal translation.
Jacob Name History & Origins
Jacob is the third of the Hebrew patriarchs in Genesis, the son of Isaac and Rebekah and the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. The name stayed in continuous use among Jewish communities, where it appears as Yaʿaqov, and the patriarch's second name, Israel, became the collective name of the people.
When the Hebrew scriptures were translated into Greek, the patriarch's name was written Ἰακώβ (Iakōb) in the Septuagint, while the New Testament figures who bear the same Hebrew name - including two apostles - appear as Ἰάκωβος (Iakōbos). Latin kept a similar split: Iacob for the patriarch and Iacobus for the New Testament men. From Iacobus a later Latin form, Iacomus, developed in the western Mediterranean, and it was this form that passed into Old French as James and from there into English as James. As a result, one Hebrew name entered English twice: as James by way of French, and as Jacob taken over directly from the biblical text. This is also why English New Testaments say "James" where the Greek reads Iakōbos.
The same Latin Iacobus produced a wide family of European forms, among them Italian Giacomo and Jacopo, Spanish Yago and Santiago, Portuguese Tiago, and French Jacques. In medieval England, James was the common vernacular form and Jacob appeared only occasionally as a given name. The Reformation's attention to the Hebrew scriptures and their Hebrew name forms encouraged English speakers to use "Jacob" directly, and the Geneva Bible and the King James Bible of 1611 both call the patriarch Jacob. From that period the Hebrew-derived form has stood alongside James in English as a separate name.
How Popular is the Name Jacob?
Jacob has a rich multi-era history in the U.S. top 100, spanning 76 total years and enjoying its modern revival from 1974 to 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #10,576 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 2023 | #14,114 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2022 | #9,983 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2021 | #11,530 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2020 | #10,602 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 2019 | #11,795 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2018 | #10,905 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2017 | #7,223 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2016 | #7,389 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2015 | #5,729 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2014 | #8,664 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2013 | #5,721 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2012 | #5,308 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 2011 | #5,813 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2010 | #4,900 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 2009 | #5,279 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 2008 | #5,067 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 2007 | #4,409 | 34 | 0.0018% |
| 2006 | #4,030 | 37 | 0.0019% |
| 2005 | #3,669 | 40 | 0.0022% |
| 2004 | #1,263 | 171 | 0.0093% |
| 2003 | #3,150 | 47 | 0.0026% |
| 2002 | #3,355 | 41 | 0.0023% |
| 2001 | #3,510 | 38 | 0.0021% |
| 2000 | #2,551 | 59 | 0.0032% |
| 1999 | #2,354 | 63 | 0.0036% |
| 1998 | #2,349 | 60 | 0.0034% |
| 1997 | #2,242 | 61 | 0.0035% |
| 1996 | #2,431 | 53 | 0.0030% |
| 1995 | #2,061 | 66 | 0.0038% |
| 1994 | #2,514 | 50 | 0.0028% |
| 1993 | #2,053 | 67 | 0.0037% |
| 1992 | #2,470 | 52 | 0.0028% |
| 1991 | #2,168 | 61 | 0.0033% |
| 1990 | #2,212 | 58 | 0.0031% |
| 1989 | #1,794 | 75 | 0.0041% |
| 1988 | #1,665 | 78 | 0.0044% |
| 1987 | #1,453 | 90 | 0.0052% |
| 1986 | #1,556 | 78 | 0.0045% |
| 1985 | #1,567 | 77 | 0.0045% |
| 1984 | #2,062 | 49 | 0.0029% |
| 1983 | #1,680 | 66 | 0.0040% |
| 1982 | #1,645 | 70 | 0.0041% |
| 1981 | #1,833 | 60 | 0.0036% |
| 1980 | #2,022 | 52 | 0.0031% |
| 1979 | #2,314 | 41 | 0.0026% |
| 1978 | #2,246 | 41 | 0.0027% |
| 1977 | #2,476 | 35 | 0.0023% |
| 1976 | #3,216 | 22 | 0.0015% |
| 1975 | #2,998 | 24 | 0.0016% |
| 1974 | #3,244 | 21 | 0.0014% |
| 1973 | #5,003 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1972 | #7,616 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1971 | #8,802 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1964 | #7,168 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1955 | #6,208 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1937 | #4,543 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1932 | #4,704 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1930 | #3,837 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1929 | #4,905 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1924 | #5,441 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1921 | #5,483 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1920 | #5,326 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1918 | #5,178 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1917 | #4,923 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1911 | #2,657 | 5 | 0.0012% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #43 | 6,152 | 0.3602% |
| 2024 | #41 | 6,496 | 0.3787% |
| 2023 | #35 | 7,005 | 0.4100% |
| 2022 | #32 | 7,658 | 0.4390% |
| 2021 | #24 | 8,481 | 0.4851% |
| 2020 | #15 | 9,306 | 0.5395% |
| 2019 | #12 | 10,786 | 0.6014% |
| 2018 | #13 | 11,891 | 0.6550% |
| 2017 | #9 | 13,265 | 0.7169% |
| 2016 | #7 | 14,554 | 0.7671% |
| 2015 | #4 | 15,999 | 0.8349% |
| 2014 | #4 | 16,916 | 0.8808% |
| 2013 | #2 | 18,196 | 0.9621% |
| 2012 | #1 | 19,104 | 1.0073% |
| 2011 | #1 | 20,401 | 1.0743% |
| 2010 | #1 | 22,154 | 1.1548% |
| 2009 | #1 | 21,202 | 1.0690% |
| 2008 | #1 | 22,622 | 1.1090% |
| 2007 | #1 | 24,308 | 1.1713% |
| 2006 | #1 | 24,867 | 1.2100% |
| 2005 | #1 | 25,851 | 1.2944% |
| 2004 | #1 | 27,906 | 1.4060% |
| 2003 | #1 | 29,658 | 1.5015% |
| 2002 | #1 | 30,586 | 1.5754% |
| 2001 | #1 | 32,573 | 1.6766% |
| 2000 | #1 | 34,491 | 1.7562% |
| 1999 | #1 | 35,371 | 1.8422% |
| 1998 | #2 | 36,027 | 1.8849% |
| 1997 | #2 | 34,163 | 1.8123% |
| 1996 | #3 | 31,924 | 1.6853% |
| 1995 | #4 | 31,134 | 1.6355% |
| 1994 | #7 | 29,419 | 1.5228% |
| 1993 | #9 | 27,485 | 1.4014% |
| 1992 | #15 | 25,667 | 1.2850% |
| 1991 | #17 | 25,197 | 1.2472% |
| 1990 | #20 | 22,023 | 1.0722% |
| 1989 | #26 | 17,834 | 0.8913% |
| 1988 | #28 | 15,883 | 0.8297% |
| 1987 | #31 | 14,326 | 0.7673% |
| 1986 | #31 | 13,651 | 0.7413% |
| 1985 | #35 | 12,286 | 0.6647% |
| 1984 | #37 | 11,357 | 0.6292% |
| 1983 | #36 | 10,998 | 0.6135% |
| 1982 | #41 | 10,061 | 0.5544% |
| 1981 | #43 | 9,345 | 0.5217% |
| 1980 | #43 | 8,522 | 0.4777% |
| 1979 | #45 | 7,546 | 0.4383% |
| 1978 | #50 | 6,162 | 0.3753% |
| 1977 | #56 | 5,789 | 0.3523% |
| 1976 | #63 | 4,509 | 0.2874% |
| 1975 | #75 | 3,619 | 0.2318% |
| 1974 | #88 | 2,958 | 0.1881% |
| 1973 | #122 | 2,124 | 0.1363% |
| 1972 | #156 | 1,682 | 0.1037% |
| 1971 | #224 | 1,056 | 0.0597% |
| 1970 | #255 | 910 | 0.0490% |
| 1969 | #296 | 656 | 0.0367% |
| 1968 | #324 | 553 | 0.0318% |
| 1967 | #353 | 447 | 0.0256% |
| 1966 | #351 | 454 | 0.0255% |
| 1965 | #346 | 489 | 0.0263% |
| 1964 | #344 | 522 | 0.0262% |
| 1963 | #353 | 487 | 0.0240% |
| 1962 | #370 | 474 | 0.0229% |
| 1961 | #352 | 506 | 0.0238% |
| 1960 | #351 | 492 | 0.0231% |
| 1959 | #328 | 558 | 0.0261% |
| 1958 | #341 | 506 | 0.0238% |
| 1957 | #331 | 540 | 0.0250% |
| 1956 | #322 | 538 | 0.0254% |
| 1955 | #303 | 577 | 0.0280% |
| 1954 | #306 | 563 | 0.0276% |
| 1953 | #289 | 590 | 0.0299% |
| 1952 | #298 | 561 | 0.0289% |
| 1951 | #311 | 502 | 0.0267% |
| 1950 | #318 | 465 | 0.0260% |
| 1949 | #308 | 490 | 0.0276% |
| 1948 | #289 | 550 | 0.0313% |
| 1947 | #301 | 522 | 0.0285% |
| 1946 | #304 | 457 | 0.0281% |
| 1945 | #293 | 417 | 0.0310% |
| 1944 | #284 | 437 | 0.0321% |
| 1943 | #281 | 476 | 0.0334% |
| 1942 | #252 | 524 | 0.0379% |
| 1941 | #257 | 466 | 0.0379% |
| 1940 | #235 | 514 | 0.0443% |
| 1939 | #262 | 427 | 0.0386% |
| 1938 | #242 | 488 | 0.0440% |
| 1937 | #223 | 536 | 0.0503% |
| 1936 | #230 | 500 | 0.0482% |
| 1935 | #245 | 475 | 0.0456% |
| 1934 | #219 | 547 | 0.0530% |
| 1933 | #213 | 539 | 0.0544% |
| 1932 | #218 | 558 | 0.0534% |
| 1931 | #217 | 572 | 0.0550% |
| 1930 | #212 | 622 | 0.0567% |
| 1929 | #203 | 647 | 0.0602% |
| 1928 | #196 | 718 | 0.0648% |
| 1927 | #173 | 855 | 0.0759% |
| 1926 | #177 | 810 | 0.0729% |
| 1925 | #166 | 901 | 0.0807% |
| 1924 | #163 | 970 | 0.0856% |
| 1923 | #160 | 975 | 0.0890% |
| 1922 | #148 | 1,027 | 0.0944% |
| 1921 | #143 | 1,094 | 0.0993% |
| 1920 | #143 | 1,050 | 0.0987% |
| 1919 | #138 | 1,082 | 0.1104% |
| 1918 | #133 | 1,198 | 0.1182% |
| 1917 | #130 | 1,122 | 0.1212% |
| 1916 | #123 | 1,132 | 0.1272% |
| 1915 | #121 | 1,122 | 0.1322% |
| 1914 | #113 | 997 | 0.1523% |
| 1913 | #117 | 744 | 0.1452% |
| 1912 | #110 | 691 | 0.1607% |
| 1911 | #116 | 323 | 0.1429% |
| 1910 | #117 | 273 | 0.1406% |
| 1909 | #102 | 262 | 0.1598% |
| 1908 | #108 | 235 | 0.1523% |
| 1907 | #101 | 243 | 0.1655% |
| 1906 | #114 | 187 | 0.1404% |
| 1905 | #98 | 220 | 0.1663% |
| 1904 | #89 | 243 | 0.1897% |
| 1903 | #103 | 189 | 0.1585% |
| 1902 | #95 | 207 | 0.1688% |
| 1901 | #98 | 172 | 0.1616% |
| 1900 | #101 | 233 | 0.1548% |
| 1899 | #92 | 189 | 0.1779% |
| 1898 | #82 | 256 | 0.2087% |
| 1897 | #88 | 204 | 0.1809% |
| 1896 | #83 | 241 | 0.2016% |
| 1895 | #74 | 266 | 0.2266% |
| 1894 | #68 | 292 | 0.2522% |
| 1893 | #65 | 292 | 0.2600% |
| 1892 | #73 | 283 | 0.2319% |
| 1891 | #69 | 238 | 0.2352% |
| 1890 | #66 | 290 | 0.2612% |
| 1889 | #67 | 295 | 0.2668% |
| 1888 | #58 | 353 | 0.2921% |
| 1887 | #56 | 317 | 0.3126% |
| 1886 | #54 | 346 | 0.3123% |
| 1885 | #53 | 343 | 0.3182% |
| 1884 | #50 | 381 | 0.3329% |
| 1883 | #49 | 356 | 0.3403% |
| 1882 | #46 | 390 | 0.3431% |
| 1881 | #39 | 381 | 0.3782% |
| 1880 | #39 | 404 | 0.3656% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Jacob
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Jacob Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are honest, benevolent, brilliant and often inventive, full of high inspirations. You are courageous, honest, determined, original and creative. You are a leader, especially for a cause. Sometimes you do not care to finish what you start, and may leave details to others. You can do well in position of authority, and prospers in intellectual and professional fields. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Jacob's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Jacob's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.