Jacob Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Jacob is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Jacob?
Jacob is spelled J-A-C-O-B. The name has 5 letters.
Jacob at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Jacob is derived from the Hebrew name Yaakov, which may mean “holder of the heel” or “supplanter.”
- Origin
- Jacob is commonly associated with the Hebrew Bible and Jewish tradition as a prominent patriarchal figure.
- Pronunciation
- JAY-kub · 2 syllables
Jacob Popularity in 2025
Rank#43
Recorded Births6,152
- Boys usage fell 3 places to #43 and recorded 389 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Jacob Mean?
Jacob is derived from the Hebrew name Yaakov, which may mean “holder of the heel” or “supplanter.”
Origin: Jacob is commonly associated with the Hebrew Bible and Jewish tradition as a prominent patriarchal figure.
How Do You Pronounce Jacob?
PronunciationJAY-kub
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Jacob?
- History
- The name Jacob has been used in various cultures over centuries, appearing in religious texts and historical records within Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions.
Jacob Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2013 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 6,152 | #43 |
| 2024 | Girls | 9 | #10,271 |
| 2024 | Boys | 6,541 | #40 |
| 2023 | Girls | 6 | #13,462 |
| 2023 | Boys | 7,015 | #35 |
| 2022 | Girls | 10 | #9,680 |
| 2022 | Boys | 7,667 | #32 |
| 2021 | Girls | 8 | #11,146 |
| 2021 | Boys | 8,494 | #24 |
| 2020 | Girls | 9 | #10,250 |
| 2020 | Boys | 9,309 | #15 |
| 2019 | Girls | 8 | #11,356 |
| 2019 | Boys | 10,797 | #12 |
| 2018 | Girls | 9 | #10,545 |
| 2018 | Boys | 11,897 | #13 |
| 2017 | Girls | 16 | #7,092 |
| 2017 | Boys | 13,269 | #9 |
| 2016 | Girls | 16 | #7,230 |
| 2016 | Boys | 14,559 | #7 |
| 2015 | Girls | 23 | #5,653 |
| 2015 | Boys | 16,005 | #4 |
| 2014 | Girls | 13 | #8,485 |
| 2014 | Boys | 16,923 | #4 |
| 2013 | Girls | 23 | #5,644 |
When Was Jacob Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1998 · Boys
36,031 recorded births
National rank #2
1999 · Boys
35,371 recorded births
National rank #1
2000 · Boys
34,492 recorded births
National rank #1
1997 · Boys
34,163 recorded births
National rank #2
Where Jacob Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| NY | #9 | 631 |
| NJ | #15 | 274 |
| WY | #16 | 14 |
| RI | #22 | 25 |
| DC | #22 | 23 |
| AK | #27 | 18 |
| FL | #29 | 472 |
| MD | #29 | 122 |