Jakobus

The first name Jakobus is a Latinized variant of the biblical Jacob/Jakob, whose origin can be found in the ancient Hebrew Ya'aqov (יַעֲקֹב). Its meaning is 'God protects' or 'God may protect'. Over time, folk etymological, yet unfounded interpretations such as 'the heel holder', 'the supplanter', 'the deceiver', and 'the trickster' have developed.

What does the name Jakobus mean?

Jakobus is a male first name that originates from the Latinized form of the biblical name Jacob/Jakob and has its roots in the ancient Hebrew Ya'aqov (יַעֲקֹב). The translation is 'God protects' or 'God may protect'. Folk etymological interpretations that have developed later include terms like 'the heel holder', 'the supplanter', 'the deceiver', and 'the trickster'. The name consists of the ancient Hebrew elements Ya (יַ), which means 'the name of God', and akáv (עָקַב), which means 'to supplant, follow, deceive, outwit' or akév (עָקֵב), which means 'the heel'. Jakobus is not only the name of an apostle but also of Jesus' brother. In the Old Testament, Jacob is one of Isaac's sons and the father of the twelve sons who founded the tribes of Israel. Other variants include Jacoby, Jacobo, Jacobus, Jacques, Jakab, Jacquel, Jaquan, Hamish, Thiago, and Tiago.

Where does the name Jakobus come from?

The name Jakobus has its roots in ancient Hebrew and means 'God protects'.

How do you pronounce Jakobus?

The pronunciation of the name Jakobus is three syllables and rhythmically structured. In the German language, it is usually pronounced as 'Ja-ko-bus' [ˈjaːkoːbʊs], which creates a smooth and stable sound line with an emphasized middle syllable. The 'ko' gives the name an open spaciousness, while the '-bus' provides a firm, slightly weighted closure. This gives Jakobus a dignified and traditional sound that is both calm and imbued with deep biblical-historical significance.

When is the name day of Jakobus?

The name day of Jakobus is celebrated on July 25.

Popularity

In Germany, Jakobus is a rather rare first name. In 2022, it ranked 5,453rd on the list of the most common male first names. Its best ranking was in 2010 at 2,204th place. Over the last ten years, Jakobus has been given as a first name around 20 times, placing it 5,320th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 4,425th.

Nicknames & pet names

Jaki / Jako / Kobi / Kobus

Similar first names

Famous people

• Jakobus (brother of Jesus)
• Jakobus Durstewitz (German singer)
• Jakobus Linden (German stonemason)
• Jakobus Willem Rentmeester (Dutch racing rower)
• Jakobus, son of Zebedee (disciple of Jesus)
• Johannes Jakobus Molvig (ballet dancer from Russia)