| Jacob | Ethan | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Supplanter | Strong, enduring |
| Origin | Hebrew | Hebrew |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | JAY-kub | EE-thun |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1882 |
| Peak year | 1998 (36,031) | 2004 (22,210) |
| In 2025 | 6,152 | 7,852 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Jacob | Ethan |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 45,178 | 50,594 |
| 2010s | 163,321 | 149,111 |
| 2000s | 274,077 | 201,835 |
| 1990s | 298,415 | 66,930 |
| 1980s | 124,254 | 10,490 |
| 1970s | 36,351 | 5,301 |
| 1960s | 5,075 | 1,601 |
| 1950s | 5,400 | 553 |
| 1940s | 4,853 | 254 |
| 1930s | 5,264 | 225 |
| 1920s | 9,047 | 233 |
| 1910s | 8,684 | 184 |
| 1900s | 2,191 | 17 |
| 1890s | 2,551 | 31 |
| 1880s | 3,566 | 30 |
Jacob comes from the Hebrew Yaakov, linked to “heel” and read as “supplanter.” The patriarch Jacob’s twelve sons founded the tribes of Israel; the same name gives us James.
Ethan comes from the Hebrew for “firm, enduring, strong.” In the Bible, Ethan the Ezrahite was noted for his wisdom.
Ethan is more popular than Jacob today: about 7,852 US babies were given the name Ethan in 2025, compared with 6,152 named Jacob.
Jacob means Supplanter (Hebrew origin), while Ethan means Strong, enduring (Hebrew origin).
In US records, Jacob first appears in 1880 and Ethan in 1882, so Jacob has the longer recorded history.