Jacob - Name Meaning and Origin

The boy's name Jacob \j(a)-cob\ is pronounced JAY-kub. It is of Hebrew origin, and its meaning is "he who supplants". Biblical: the son of Isaac and Rebekah and twin brother of Esau. Jacob fathered 12 sons and a daughter, who became the ancestors of the nation of Israel, the name Jacob himself received after wrestling with an angel. Jacobo is a Spanish form; Yakov (YAH-kav) is Russian. Senator Jacob Javits; actor Jake Gyllenhall.

Jacob has 45 variant forms: Cob, Cobb, Cobby, Giacamo, Giacobo, Giacomo, Giacopo, Hamish, Iacopo, Iacovo, Iago, Iakob, Iakobos, Iakov, Jaco, Jacobo, Jacobi, Jacoby, Jack, Jackie, Jacko, Jacky, Jacobo, Jacobus, Jacques, Jacquet, Jago, Jaime, Jake, Jakie, Jakob, Jakov, Jakub, James, Jamesie, Jamey, Jamie, Jamsey, Jay, Jayme, Jim, Jimmie, Seamus, Shamus and Yakov.

For more information, see also related names Jock, Kobi, Yaakov and Zachary.

Baby names that sound like Jacob are Jacopo, Yakob and Yaacob.

Jacob is a very popular male first name and a very popular surname (source: 1990 U.S. Census). Displayed below is the baby name popularity trend for the boy's name Jacob. Click here to compare Jacob with related baby names.