♂ Name Jacob – may God protect
| Origin: | Hebrew |
|---|---|
| Meaning: | may God protect, holder of the heel, supplanter |
| Boy namesBoy names with JNamesNames with J | |
The boy name Jacob is of Hebrew origin and means “may God protect.”
Where does the name Jacob come from?
Jacob is a biblical name that is derived from the Latin name Iacob and the Greek name Ἰακώβ (Iakob), which are derived from the Hebrew name Yaʿaqov (יַעֲקֹב) or Yaʿaqovʾel (יַעֲקֹבְאֵל).
What does the name Jacob mean?
Jacob originally means “may God protect.” Besides, Jacob means “holder of the heel” or “supplanter”, because he was born grasping the heel of his first-born twin brother Esau and he bought his birthright to supplant him.
Word composition
- Hebrew “עָקַב” (‘akáv) = to follow, to supplant
- Hebrew “עָקֵב” (‘akév) = heel
- Hebrew “אֵל” (el) = God
Pronunciation of Jacob
Variants
Iakob Jackob Jakob YakobParents who like the name Jacob also like
Jakob Noah Theo Jonas Emil Lucas Henry Jonathan Oscar Paul Joshua Felix Liam Samuel Anton BenjaminPopularity of the name Jacob
Based on the frequency of positive ratings, we can analyze how popular names are in different countries. The name Jacob is currently ranked #169 on the name leaderboard. It is one of the most popular baby names.
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Jacob in the Top 50 names
Last updated: 3/18/2026
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