Popularity
- Jacob was ranked 1 in popularity for boys in the US in 2006.
- Jacob was the most popular boys’ name in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming in 2005.
- Over the years Jacob has bounced around the top 400 names. In 1880 it was ranked 39. It gradually decreased in popularity and hit an alltime low of 354 in 1967. It was back in the top 100 by 1974 and continued to move up the list until it hit number 1.
Reasons for Popularity
- It’s classic and can withstand the passage of time.
- It follows the popular trend of “J” names for boys.
- It has nickname options – Jake, Jay, Jack, Coby
- It has religious significance.
Meaning
- The Hebrew meaning of Jacob is “supplanter” or “substitute.”
Alternate Spellings
Nicknames
Is your name Jacob or did you choose this name for your child? Leave a comment sharing the name’s significance for you.
