How to say it
JAY · kub
ˈdʒeɪ.kəb
Masculine
Jacob
Supplanter, or 'God protects'
What it means
From the Hebrew Ya'akov. Two competing roots: akev (heel, supplanter) and a separate root meaning 'may God protect.' Both fit the biblical figure.
The biblical Jacob is the third Hebrew patriarch, born grasping his twin brother Esau's heel, then supplanting Esau for the birthright. Renamed Israel after wrestling with the angel. His twelve sons became the tribes. The name held the US #1 spot for boys from 1999 to 2012, the longest run of any modern male name. The Spanish Jacobo and Italian Giacomo are forms of Jacob; so are James, Spanish Diego, and Spanish Santiago (all four trace to the same Hebrew root, just through different language paths). Common short forms: Jake, Jacobi, Coby.
How to spell Jacob
The standard spelling is Jacob. Common variants include Ya'akov, Jacobo, Giacomo, Yaakov, but Jacob is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #1 in 1999, currently #43 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Jake is the universal short. Jay shows up occasionally.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Jacob (Bible) Hebrew patriarch, son of Isaac, renamed Israel
- Jacob Black Werewolf in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight
Spelling variants
- Ya'akov
- Jacobo
- Giacomo
- Yaakov
Names with the same feeling
See Jacob from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Jacob mean?
- From the Hebrew Ya'akov. Two competing roots: akev (heel, supplanter) and a separate root meaning 'may God protect.' Both fit the biblical figure.
- What does Jacob mean in Hebrew?
- In Hebrew, Jacob means "Supplanter, or 'God protects'." The biblical Jacob is the third Hebrew patriarch, born grasping his twin brother Esau's heel, then supplanting Esau for the birthright. Renamed Israel after wrestling with the angel. His twelve sons became the tribes. The name held the US #1 spot for boys from 1999 to 2012, the longest run of any modern male name. The Spanish Jacobo and Italian Giacomo are forms of Jacob; so are James, Spanish Diego, and Spanish Santiago (all four trace to the same Hebrew root, just through different language paths). Common short forms: Jake, Jacobi, Coby.
- How do you pronounce Jacob?
- Jacob is pronounced ˈdʒeɪ.kəb. Say it as JAY-kub, with the stress on the "jay" syllable.
- How do you spell Jacob?
- The standard spelling is Jacob. Common spelling variants include Ya'akov, Jacobo, Giacomo, Yaakov.
- Is Jacob a boy or girl name?
- Jacob is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Jacob?
- Jacob ranked #43 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.