Name meaning & stats
Jacob
Jacob means “supplanter” (Hebrew origin). 959,177 US babies since 1940, peak 1998. Notable Jacobs are 1.6× over-represented as basketball players.
What it means
“supplanter”
HebrewWell documented
In US birth records
Peak year: 1998
959,177 US babies were named Jacob between 1940 and 2025.
Where Jacobs end up
Not enough notable Jacobs yet, so this uses the spelling family: Jacob, Jakob.
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Footballer | 1.5× | High · 59 people |
| Basketball player | 1.6× | High · 53 people |
| Actor | 1.4× | High · 48 people |
| NFL-style footballer | 1.0× | High · 34 people |
Among notable men who are basketball players, the Jacob family show up 1.6× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Jacob has a surprise career: 1.6×
Spelling family
Jacob is the main spelling
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1998)