While first names with sounds from elsewhere are increasingly winning over French parents, Jacob is part of this trend while affirming its ancient biblical roots. In 2025, this male first name will join the top 500 attributions in France with 2,700 births recorded, demonstrating a growing attraction for Hebrew first names which free themselves from the classic “el” ending.
A first name with ancient biblical roots
The etymology of Jacob draws directly from sacred texts and means “to supplant” or “to heel” in Hebrew. This origin refers to the particular circumstances of his birth recounted in the Bible: the patriarch was born holding the heel of his twin brother Esau. In the Old Testament, Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebekah, buys back his birthright from his twin in exchange for a dish of lentils. His successive wives, Leah and Rachel, gave birth to the future patriarchs of the twelve tribes of Israel, making Jacob a central figure in the Judeo-Christian tradition.
Established for a long time in Jewish cultures, this first name also experienced remarkable growth in English-speaking countries from the 17th century, carried by Puritan communities. Even today, Jacob remains very common in Dutch-speaking and Scandinavian countries, where it is one of the preferred choices of parents.
An international success driven by popular culture
Jacob’s journey perfectly illustrates the influence of popular culture on first name trends. In the 2000s, the American Twilight saga propelled this first name to the top of the charts across the Atlantic, with the character of Jacob becoming one of the favorite heroes of an entire generation. In 2012, the film adaptation of the series further strengthened its international notoriety and contributed to its distribution in France, alongside other first names in the saga such as Esmée and Bella.
This wave is part of a broader movement to adopt foreign-sounding first names. Since the end of the 1990s, French parents have turned to choices from Italy (Enzo, Matteo), Spain (Esteban), Ireland (Liam, Malone) or Scandinavian countries (Nils, Sven). Hebrew first names like Joseph, Joshua, Caleb or Jacob particularly enrich this multicultural heritage, bringing new sounds while retaining a strong spiritual dimension.
Still timid progress in France
Despite its global success and its presence in the French top 500, Jacob is still struggling to really take off in France compared to other Western countries. This measured progression contrasts with the enthusiasm observed in the United States, the Netherlands and the Scandinavian countries. The 2,700 allocations in 2025 nevertheless demonstrate steady growth and potential for expansion in the years to come.
The first name comes in several variations: Jacobin, Iacob, Iacov, as well as the Basque form Jacobe. Characteristically, Jacob is associated with values of structure, perseverance, security, organization and efficiency. The Jacobs celebrate their first name on December 20, in reference to one of the patron saints who bore this name throughout Christian history.
This gradual breakthrough of Jacob in France is part of an underlying trend: the growing openness of French parents to exotic and international first names, whether they come from Hebrew, Gaelic, Scandinavian cultures or even more distant horizons such as India, Tahiti or Asia. A phenomenon which is profoundly reshaping the French first-name landscape of the 21st century.