Jacob is a name of Hebrew origin that means "held by the heel" or "supplanter." It is believed to have been derived from the Hebrew name Ya'akov, which was borne by the biblical patriarch Jacob who was born holding onto his twin brother Esau's heel and later received the blessing intended for his brother. The name has a rich history in both Jewish and Christian traditions and has been popular among people of different faiths throughout the centuries.
In the Old Testament, Jacob is known as the son of Isaac and Rebecca, grandson of Abraham, and the father of twelve sons who became the founders of the twelve tribes of Israel. He was named after his grandfather, whose name also meant "supplanter" due to his own deception of his brother Esau. The story goes that when Jacob was born he held onto his brother's heel as if trying to hold him back, which is how he received his name.
The name Jacob has been popular throughout history and in many different cultures. It was borne by several early saints and martyrs, including Saint Jacob of Nisibis who was a bishop in the 4th century, and Saint James the Less who was one of Jesus' twelve apostles. In medieval Europe, it was common among Jews and later became popular among Christians as well.
Today, Jacob is still a widely used name throughout the world, particularly among English-speaking countries. Variations of the name include Jake, Jacque, Jakob, and Yaacov, among others. Whether it's the biblical patriarch or one of its many modern-day bearers, the name Jacob carries with it a long history and rich meaning.
The name Jaecob has seen a varied but consistent level of popularity in the United States over the past three decades, with a total of 141 births recorded between 1993 and 2021.
Looking at the annual statistics, we can observe that the number of newborns named Jaecob ranged from as few as 5 in several years (1993, 2000, 2010, 2017, 2019, and 2021) to a high of 8 births in four different years (1999, 2003, 2006, and 2012-2014). The peak popularity of the name Jaecob seemed to occur between 2012 and 2014, with eight births recorded each year during this period.
Despite some fluctuations in popularity over the years, the consistent number of newborns named Jaecob demonstrates that it has maintained a steady level of popularity as a boys' name in the United States. It is clear that parents have chosen this name for their children across multiple generations, contributing to its enduring presence among American baby names.