| Jacob | Matthew | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Supplanter | gift of Yahweh |
| Origin | Hebrew | hebrew |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | JAY-kub | MATH-yoo |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 1998 (36,031) | 1983 (50,209) |
| In 2025 | 6,152 | 7,003 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Jacob | Matthew |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 45,178 | 44,052 |
| 2010s | 163,321 | 125,101 |
| 2000s | 274,077 | 221,631 |
| 1990s | 298,415 | 351,682 |
| 1980s | 124,254 | 458,951 |
| 1970s | 36,351 | 277,727 |
| 1960s | 5,075 | 105,938 |
| 1950s | 5,400 | 35,796 |
| 1940s | 4,853 | 8,760 |
| 1930s | 5,264 | 6,255 |
| 1920s | 9,047 | 8,566 |
| 1910s | 8,684 | 6,228 |
| 1900s | 2,191 | 1,188 |
| 1890s | 2,551 | 1,132 |
| 1880s | 3,566 | 1,068 |
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.
English form of the Hebrew name Mattityahu (Mattathias), from mattath 'gift' + yah, a short form of the divine name Yahweh. The structure is 'gift of God': 'gift' + the name of God.
Matthew is more popular than Jacob today: about 7,003 US babies were given the name Matthew in 2025, compared with 6,152 named Jacob.
Jacob means Supplanter (Hebrew origin), while Matthew means gift of Yahweh (hebrew origin).
In US records, Jacob first appears in 1880 and Matthew in 1880, so Jacob has the longer recorded history.