Jacob
Jacob is a boy name of Hebrew origin, meaning Supplanter; holder of the heel.
What Jacob means
Supplanter; holder of the heel.
Jacob sits at 5 letters, and ends on a consonant, which gives it a firmer stop.
Where Jacob comes from
Hebrew names are frequently built as short phrases rather than single words, and many are theophoric — they contain a name of God as one element. This is why so many carry a full sentence of meaning.
Jacob is recorded as Hebrew in origin. Browse other Hebrew names.
How popular is Jacob?
You will not find Jacob in the top 100 boy names at the moment. Plenty of well-known names sit outside the charts; popularity measures how often a name is registered, not how good or how real it is.
The character of Jacob
Jacob spans scripture and the long-established classics, which is why it can read differently depending on which association you notice first. Both threads are worth following.
Names like Jacob
These share Jacob's themes, origin, or both — closest first.
- James — Supplanter; a timeless classic.
- Joseph — God will increase.
- Benjamin — Son of the right hand.
- John — God is gracious.
- Josephine — God will increase.
- Judith — Woman of Judea; praised.
- Elizabeth — Pledged to God; God is my oath.
- Leah — Weary; delicate.
- Mary — Beloved; star of the sea.
- Rebecca — To bind; captivating.
- Sarah — Princess; noblewoman.
- Theodore — Gift of God.