Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Jacob is a Hebrew name meaning 'supplanter' that has evolved through various languages from Ya'aqov to James. It has biblical significance as a patriarch and has maintained popularity due to its strong associations and historical usage, particularly in Christian contexts.
Etymology & Cultural Background
Pronunciation
/ˈdʒeɪkəb/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
The name Jacob comes from the Hebrew name Ya'aqov, which is derived from the root 'aqab', meaning 'to follow' or 'to supplant'.
Meaning
Supplanter
Language Evolution
Ya'aqov (Hebrew), Iacobus (Latin), Jacobus (Late Latin), Jacques (Old French), James (English)
Biblical Background
Jacob is a significant figure in the Bible, known as the son of Isaac and Rebecca and the grandson of Abraham. He is the patriarch of the Israelites.
Historical Usage
The name Jacob gained popularity in the Christian world after the translation of the Bible into Latin, particularly during the Middle Ages.
Variants & Derivatives
James, Jake, Jacques, Diego, Iago
Modern Popularity & Image
Jacob has remained a popular name in many English-speaking countries, often associated with strength and reliability.
Famous People
Jacob Grimm (German philologist and folklorist), Jacob Lawrence (American painter), Jacob Black (character from Twilight series), Jacob Sartorius (American singer and social media star)
📊 Trend Analysis
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Name Visualizations
Key Insights
Popularity Trend
Highly Popular name with 36,087 peak births in 1998
Geographic Spread
Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in Nevada
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 14 different American generations with varying popularity
🔊 Alternative Spellings & Similar Sounds (9 Variations)
Explore names that share identical pronunciation with different spellings. These variations offer alternative options for parents seeking unique yet familiar-sounding choices. This curated collection includes 9 carefully selected variations that maintain the same phonetic sound while providing distinct spelling options.
Why consider alternative spellings? Different spellings can offer unique cultural significance or personal preference while maintaining the familiar sound. This collection covers various spelling patterns, helping you find variations that match your preferences.
Historical Birth Statistics
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History
Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 139th of 7545 | 18,324 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 239th of 6773 | 9,463 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 329th of 7552 | 9,900 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 104th of 10718 | 47,476 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 19th of 16616 | 308,590 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1st of 24088 | 441,284 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 10th of 23106 | 140,553 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 5980th of 9107 | 30 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 6604th of 9204 | 22 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 11010th of 12526 | 10 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 3870th of 19264 | 258 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 1938th of 27321 | 1,050 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 3171st of 35406 | 785 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 8567th of 30306 | 150 |
Regional Popularity by Generation - Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
10.95% 155th/1416 |
6.38% 88th/1379 |
7.90% 187th/2366 |
19.26% 220th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
15.14% 234th/1546 |
10.09% 157th/1556 |
11.18% 263rd/2353 |
22.17% 343rd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
14.64% 326th/2227 |
9.71% 236th/2430 |
12.41% 354th/2853 |
13.73% 381st/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
3.10% 91st/2937 |
3.70% 129th/3483 |
3.87% 136th/3518 |
1.63% 66th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
0.35% 13th/3685 |
0.85% 38th/4475 |
0.39% 20th/5194 |
0.30% 19th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
0.02% 1st/4582 |
0.12% 6th/5164 |
0.01% 1st/7313 |
0.01% 1st/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
0.53% 21st/3984 |
0.13% 6th/4487 |
0.10% 7th/6822 |
0.18% 11th/6276 |
Regional Popularity by Generation - Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - |
100.00% 3518th/3518 |
63.13% 2553rd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
48.77% 1797th/3685 |
77.01% 3446th/4475 |
48.79% 2534th/5194 |
31.98% 2020th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
77.13% 3534th/4582 |
62.45% 3225th/5164 |
36.96% 2703rd/7313 |
56.59% 4223rd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
100.00% 4487th/4487 |
- | - |
State-by-State Popularity
This map shows relative popularity across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.
Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends in the United States
This name shows strongest popularity in Nevada across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been gradually declining. From 2020-2022, usage has been too rising for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, too rising for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, too rising for male in South, stalled for female in South, too rising for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been too rising for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, too rising for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, too rising for male in South, stalled for female in South, too rising for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, popularity patterns vary significantly: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 139th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 239th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 329th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 104th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 19th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1st out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 10th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 5980th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 6604th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 11010th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3870th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1938th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 3171st out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 8567th out of 30306 names. Explore how this name has evolved through American history with comprehensive regional and generational analysis.