| Jacob | Jonathan | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Supplanter | Yahweh has given |
| Origin | Hebrew | hebrew |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | JAY-kub | JON-ə-thən |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 1998 (36,031) | 1988 (24,349) |
| In 2025 | 6,152 | 3,822 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Jacob | Jonathan |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 45,178 | 25,386 |
| 2010s | 163,321 | 79,888 |
| 2000s | 274,077 | 144,848 |
| 1990s | 298,415 | 197,503 |
| 1980s | 124,254 | 229,953 |
| 1970s | 36,351 | 107,926 |
| 1960s | 5,075 | 47,389 |
| 1950s | 5,400 | 25,816 |
| 1940s | 4,853 | 8,296 |
| 1930s | 5,264 | 1,663 |
| 1920s | 9,047 | 1,078 |
| 1910s | 8,684 | 660 |
| 1900s | 2,191 | 139 |
| 1890s | 2,551 | 129 |
| 1880s | 3,566 | 192 |
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.
From Hebrew Yehonatan, combining yeho (a form of Yahweh) + natan 'to give' — 'Yahweh has given'. A 'gift of God' name framed as God's act of giving.
Jacob is more popular than Jonathan today: about 6,152 US babies were given the name Jacob in 2025, compared with 3,822 named Jonathan.
Jacob means Supplanter (Hebrew origin), while Jonathan means Yahweh has given (hebrew origin).
In US records, Jacob first appears in 1880 and Jonathan in 1880, so Jacob has the longer recorded history.