Jacob is derived from the Hebrew name Yaakov, which means "held by the heel" or "supplanter". It is believed to have been given to the second son of Isaac and Rebecca in the Old Testament, who was born grasping his twin brother Esau's heel at birth. This name has been popular among various cultures throughout history, with notable figures such as Jacob Grimm, one half of the famous Brothers Grimm, and Jacob Lawrence, an influential American painter. In the English-speaking world, Jacob has consistently ranked among the top 500 names for boys since the late 19th century, with its popularity waxing and waning over time. Some common variants and related names include Jake, Jack, James, James, Jakob, and Jaime.
"The name Jacob experienced a peak popularity around the late 90s to early 2000s, with over 18 births per year from 1995 to 2003. However, it has since declined, with only 6 to 12 births annually from 2004 onwards."