Jacob in Chinese
Jacob in Chinese is 雅各布 (Yǎ Gè Bù).
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Meaning
- supplanter
Jacob is a name of Hebrew origin, generally understood to mean "supplanter". It has been in continuous US use since Social Security records begin in 1880, peaking in the 1990s. Names sharing the same root meaning include James, Jamie, Jacqueline, Jake.
3 ways to write Jacob
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
雅各布
Yǎ Gè Bù
The standard transliteration of Jacob: 雅 (yǎ, "elegant, refined"), 各 (gè, "each"), 布 (bù, "cloth; to proclaim"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
Mandarin has no consonant clusters, so the 2-syllable English name is spread over 3 characters: 雅 yǎ + 各 gè + 布 bù. The tone contour is 3-4-4 (dipping, falling, falling).
Character breakdown
23 strokes total (simplified)- 雅
yǎ
Tone 3 · 12 strokes (simplified)
elegant, refined
- 各
gè
Tone 4 · 6 strokes (simplified)
each
- 布
bù
Tone 4 · 5 strokes (simplified)
cloth; to proclaim
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
文杰
Wén Jié
Inspired by "supplanter": 文 (wén, "literature, culture; refined") + 杰 (jié, "outstanding, heroic"), expressing elegance and good character.
Why these characters?
Jacob's meaning ("supplanter") has no direct Chinese equivalent, so 文 (literature, culture; refined) and 杰 (outstanding, heroic) express elegance and good character instead.
Character breakdown
12 strokes total (simplified)- 文
wén
Tone 2 · 4 strokes (simplified)
literature, culture; refined
- 杰
jié
Tone 2 · 8 strokes (simplified)
outstanding, heroic
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
雅子
Yǎ Zǐ
雅 (yǎ, "elegant, refined") + 子 (zǐ, "son, child; master (honorific)"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
It keeps 雅 (yǎ), the same opening character as the transliteration 雅各布, for the "ja" sound, and replaces the rest with 子 ("son, child; master (honorific)") so the whole reads as a real given name.
Character breakdown
15 strokes total (simplified)- 雅
yǎ
Tone 3 · 12 strokes (simplified)
elegant, refined
- 子
zǐ
Tone 3 · 3 strokes (simplified)
son, child; master (honorific)
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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Recent US usage of Jacob
In the Social Security Administration’s 2020–2025 snapshot, Jacob ranked 30 among names recorded for boys, with 45,178 registrations in that group across the period. These are US birth-name records, rather than search counts or a ranking of Chinese names. The period covers part of a decade; it is not a final ranking for the whole 2020s.
Compare the dated figures in the SSA’s official 2020s name table. This snapshot was checked on 2026-10-15; any historical figures on this page describe their own stated period.
Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 919,481 boys named Jacob since 1880, with the high point in 1998 (36,014 births) and the busiest decade being the 1990s. Between 1990 and 2017 it held roughly steady, from #20 to #10 among boys.
- Peak year
- 1998
- Peak decade
- 1990s
- First year
- 1880
- Total since 1880
- 919,481
More About Jacob in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Jacob offers multiple styles to suit different preferences. Whether you prefer a phonetic transliteration that sounds like your name, or a meaningful interpretation that captures the essence of Jacob, you'll find options that work for you.
Names with the same root meaning include James in Chinese, Jamie in Chinese, Jacqueline in Chinese, Jake in Chinese, Diego in Chinese, and Jimmy in Chinese, which share similar origins or meanings.
If you're exploring Chinese names for boys, you might also be interested in James in Chinese, Jamie in Chinese, and Jacqueline in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Jake in Chinese, Diego in Chinese, Jimmy in Chinese, Daniel in Chinese, and David in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Jacob, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Jacob to native Chinese speakers
- Meaningful symbolism: Characters chosen for their beautiful meanings and cultural significance
- Balanced approach: A combination of sound and meaning that works well in both languages
Browse our complete A-Z index of Chinese names to explore more options, or start with our curated list of popular names in Chinese to see what others are choosing.
Frequently asked questions
How is Jacob translated into Chinese?
雅各布 (Yǎ Gè Bù), identical in simplified and traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
Is there a Chinese name for Jacob with real meaning?
Try 文杰 (Wén Jié): literature, culture; refined + outstanding, heroic, inspired by "supplanter". For something that still sounds like Jacob, 雅子 (Yǎ Zǐ) is a middle ground.
How many strokes does 雅各布 have?
23 strokes in simplified form; per character: 雅 12, 各 6, 布 5.