Jacob
[ˈdʒeɪkəb]Meaning
from the Hebrew Yaʿaqov, explained as "holder of the heel" or "supplanter"
Background Story
Jacob comes from the Latin Iacob, from the Greek Iakob, from the Hebrew name Yaʿaqov. The name is explained as meaning "holder of the heel" or "supplanter", because in the Old Testament Jacob was born holding his twin brother Esau's heel; other theories derive it from a hypothetical name Yaʿaqovʾel meaning "may God protect". English Jacob and James derive from the same source, James via the Latin Iacomus, a later variant of Iacobus. In England Jacob was mainly regarded as a Jewish name during the Middle Ages, and it came into general use as a Christian name after the Protestant Reformation.
Variations
Jake, Jacoby, Jakob
Related Names
Jakko
A name derived from the Hebrew name Jacob, meaning 'supplanter'
Jakob
Form of Jacob (or James) used in several languages
Davis
From the English surname Davis, derived from the given name David
Elroy
The name Elroy means 'God is my King' in Hebrew.
Jacko
A diminutive of Jack, formed with the suffix -o
Jacoby
A given name and surname; also a glacier, a bridge convention, a typeface
Janno
Estonian masculine given name, a diminutive of Johannes, Juhan, Jan, Jaan and Jaanus
Jared
Descending, or he who rules, derived from Hebrew.
Jason
From the Greek name Ἰάσων (Iason), meaning "healer"