International Variations of Jacob
Updated Fri Feb 16 2024
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The Number 1 boy's name in the US from 1999 until 2012, the Biblical Jacob also translates into many other cultures across the globe.
There are several handsome forms of Jacob used internationally, such Cornish Jago, Polish Kuba, Italian Giacomo, and French Jacques.
Here is our full list of international variations of Jacob, ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.
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- Jacob
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"supplanter"Description:
Biblical Jacob ceded his Number 1 spot to biblical Noah, in 2013, after holding first place on the list of baby boy names from 1999 to 2012, given a huge boost by the Twilight phenomenon.
- Hamish
Origin:
Scottish variation of JamesMeaning:
"supplanter"Description:
Just as Seamus/Seumus is Irish for James, Hamish is the Scottish form — one that's not often used here, but still redolent of Olde Scotland. If you're ready to go further than Duncan and Malcolm, out to Laird and Ewan territory, this may be worth consideration. It also sounds just like the Yiddish word for homey.
- Diego
Origin:
Spanish variation of JamesMeaning:
"supplanter"Description:
The energetic Diego is rising rapidly along with a lot of other authentically Spanish baby names that work perfectly well with surnames of any origin.
- Tiago
Origin:
Portuguese diminutive of Santiago, LatinMeaning:
"Saint James"Description:
Tiago, also spelled Thiago, is a popular Portuguese boys' name derived from the more formal Santiago but these days usually used on its own. English speakers won't intuitively get the pronunciation but this might be a creative way to honor an ancestral James or Diego.
- Jago
Origin:
Spanish and Cornish variation of JacobMeaning:
"supplanter"Description:
Jago is a dashing alternative to overused favorite Jacob.
- Kuba
Origin:
Short form of JakubDescription:
Kuba is the attractive short form of Jakub, the spelling of Jacob commonly used in Poland. Much more distinctive than Jake!
- Jacques
Origin:
French variation of James and JacobMeaning:
"supplanter"Description:
Regal and ancient feeling, Jacques has been declining in popularity in its native France, but in the UK, it saw a surprising revival in 2022. Jumping from somewhere around the #2500 mark straight to #600, it was seven times more popular than in 2021.
- Jaime
Origin:
Spanish variation of JamesDescription:
A Hispanic classic that has lost some momentum in recent years. It could be misunderstood by some as Jamie -- which is how it's pronounced on Game of Thrones.
- Giacomo
Origin:
Italian variation of JamesMeaning:
"supplanter"Description:
Giacomo is a primo member of the Giovanni-Gino-Giancarlo-Giacomo gruppo of Italian names that are beginning to be adopted by American parents. Singer/creative baby namer Sting chose it for his son.
- Jaco
Origin:
Portuguese variation of JacobDescription:
Intriguing twist on Jacob, but may be too strongly associated with Michael Jackson.
- Jakob
Origin:
German, Norwegian, and Slovenian variation of Jacob, Hebrew variation of JamesMeaning:
"supplanter"Description:
After cracking the US Top 200 in the early 2000s, fueled by Jacob's rise, this name has been losing steam in recent years. But Jakob is the top form of the name in many other countries, cultures, and languages, ranking highly in Germany, Norway, Austria, Iceland, and Slovenia. Jakub is the Polish variation.
- Jakub
Origin:
Polish, Czech, and Slovak variation of Jacob, HebrewMeaning:
"supplanter"Description:
Jakub is an authentic Polish variation of the megapopular Jacob, but in the US it will feel like a kree8tiv spelling. Kuba is the cute Polish short form.
- Jakub
Origin:
Polish, Czech, and Slovak variation of Jacob, HebrewMeaning:
"supplanter"Description:
Jakub is an authentic Polish variation of the megapopular Jacob, but in the US it will feel like a kree8tiv spelling. Kuba is the cute Polish short form.
- Jaako
- Yakov
Origin:
Russian variation of JacobMeaning:
"supplanter"Description:
What a difference a couple of letters make: Old World version of most popular name never quite made it out of the shtetl.
- Kubo
Origin:
JapaneseDescription:
The lead character of the Oscar-nominated 2016 film "Kubo and the Two Strings" lives in Edo-period Japan, but his name is more often heard as a surname in Japan. Still, fans of the animated movie may want to consider it.
- Jacopo
Origin:
Italian variation of Jacob, HebrewMeaning:
"supplanter"Description:
One of Jacob’s perkier variations.
- Akiv
- Kobi
- Jakov
Origin:
Serbian, Croatian variation of Jacob, HebrewMeaning:
"supplanter"Description:
A top name in Eastern European countries including Croatia and Bosnia, where it is a transcription of Jacob.