Jacob

Origin and meaning of Jacob

Jacob comes from the Hebrew Ya'aqov, traditionally 'holder of the heel' and thus 'supplanter' — in the Bible the patriarch who fathered the twelve tribes of Israel. It is a name of long history and strong religious weight. Very popular in the United States, in Germany as Jakob, in Scandinavia and the Netherlands. Its forms are countless across languages, from Giacomo to Jacques. It conveys tenacity, deep roots and cleverness.

Variants around the world

How Jacob is said in other languages.

Famous people

• Jacob Grimm— writer
• Jacob Bernoulli— mathematician
• Jacob van Ruisdael— painter