Jacques is a classic French masculine given name that has been used for centuries in France and other French-speaking countries. Its origin can be traced back to the Latin word "Jacobus," which was derived from the Hebrew name "Yakob." The meaning of Jacques is associated with the concept of "supplanting" or "following," as it means "he who follows after." This derivation is linked to the biblical figure Jacob, who was born holding onto his twin brother Esau's heel and later wrestled with an angel.
The name Jacques first appeared in France during the Middle Ages, becoming popular among French nobles and aristocrats. It gained even more prominence during the reign of the House of Valois, which included several kings named Jacques, such as Jacques I and Jacques II. One of the most notable figures bearing this name is SaintJacques, a 3rd-century Christian martyr who was beheaded for his faith. He became the patron saint of Spain and is celebrated on July 25th in many Spanish-speaking countries.
Throughout history, Jacques has been associated with strength, wisdom, and leadership due to its biblical origins and the accomplishments of historical figures bearing this name. Today, it remains a popular choice among French parents, appearing frequently within the top 100 baby names in France each year. The name Jacques also has several variations across different languages and cultures, including Jack (English), Giacomo (Italian), Jaime (Spanish), and Yakob (Hebrew). Despite these variations, the essence of Jacques as a strong and historic name remains consistent across borders and languages.
The given statistics show the number of births with the name Jacques in the United States from 1962 to 2001. Over this period, there were a total of 242 babies named Jacques.
Looking at the yearly figures, we can see that the popularity of the name Jacques varied significantly over time. The highest number of births occurred in 1988 with 27 newborns named Jacques. This is notably higher than any other year in this dataset.
The years immediately preceding and following 1988 also saw relatively high numbers of babies named Jacques, suggesting a peak in popularity during the late 1980s to early 1990s. In fact, from 1987 to 1992, there were consistently more than 8 births per year.
However, the trend seems to have reversed after 1992. From 1993 onwards, the number of babies named Jacques decreased significantly, with most years recording fewer than 8 births. This suggests that the name Jacques became less popular in the United States towards the end of the 20th century.
These statistics provide a snapshot of the usage of the name Jacques over time in the United States. They demonstrate how trends in naming can change significantly from decade to decade, reflecting the evolving tastes and preferences of parents.