Discover given name insights instantly.

Uncover the origin, popularity, and more for any first name.

Name Origin

Jacob is a masculine given name of Hebrew origin, meaning 'he grasps the heel' or 'supplanter'. It comes from the biblical patriarch Jacob, who wrestled with an angel and was renamed Israel.

hebrewbiblicalpatriarchwrestlingsupplantingisrael

Famous People

Jacob Bernoulli (1654-1705)

Mathematician

  • Developed calculus of variations.
  • Contributed to probability theory and the law of large numbers.

Jacob Zuma (1942-)

Politician

  • President of South Africa (2009-2018).
  • Key figure in the anti-apartheid struggle.

Jacob Grimm (1785-1863)

Linguist, folklorist

  • Co-author of 'Grimm's Fairy Tales'
  • Contributed to the study of Germanic languages

Jacob deGrom (1988-)

Baseball Pitcher

  • Two-time Cy Young Award winner

Jacob Lawrence (1917-2000)

Painter

  • Known for his vibrant depictions of African American life
  • Developed a distinctive style using bold colors and geometric shapes