Fun Facts About the Name Jeb
- More than 2 thousand babies named Jeb: U.S. records list 2,600 babies given the name Jeb from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Jeb Mean?
Jeb is an English masculine name and nickname, most often explained as a short form of Jacob. Jacob derives from the Hebrew Ya'aqov, a name traditionally connected with 'aqev, "heel," and the verb 'aqav, "to supplant" or "to follow at the heel." The biblical story of Jacob grasping his twin Esau's heel supplies the wordplay. The literal image is the heel; "supplanter" is the customary English interpretation, and the precise sense of the Hebrew name is debated because more than one root may be involved.
Jeb also occurs as a nickname formed from the initials J.E.B. In that use it is not a translation of Jacob or of any Hebrew word; it is an acronym-like pronunciation of the letters as a word. The two patterns are distinct, though a single person's name may fit either one.
Jeb Name History & Origins
The English form Jeb is chiefly a familiar shortening or nickname. As a short form of Jacob, it belongs to the same English family as Jake, though the clipping to Jeb is informal rather than a regular sound change. Jacob itself is the English form of Hebrew Ya'aqov, which passed into English through Greek Iakobos and Latin Iacobus.
Jeb also occurs as a nickname made from initials, especially the sequence J.E.B. The Confederate cavalry general James Ewell Brown Stuart was known as Jeb Stuart, an example of this pattern rather than evidence that every Jeb descends from Jacob. A less well-established explanation connects Jeb with Jebediah, an English variant of Jedidiah (Hebrew "beloved of the Lord"); that link should not be assumed for all bearers.
How Popular is the Name Jeb?
Jeb recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1981. Its best rank was #954 in 1978.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #6,259 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2024 | #7,972 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2023 | #6,054 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2022 | #4,225 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 2021 | #4,844 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2020 | #4,478 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 2019 | #4,876 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2018 | #5,007 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2017 | #4,830 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2016 | #4,392 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2015 | #3,112 | 37 | 0.0019% |
| 2014 | #3,729 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 2013 | #3,368 | 32 | 0.0017% |
| 2012 | #4,193 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 2011 | #5,080 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2010 | #4,043 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 2009 | #4,656 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2008 | #4,189 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 2007 | #4,426 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 2006 | #2,950 | 38 | 0.0018% |
| 2005 | #2,281 | 52 | 0.0026% |
| 2004 | #1,982 | 61 | 0.0031% |
| 2003 | #1,947 | 60 | 0.0030% |
| 2002 | #2,009 | 55 | 0.0028% |
| 2001 | #2,015 | 53 | 0.0027% |
| 2000 | #2,400 | 40 | 0.0020% |
| 1999 | #2,643 | 33 | 0.0017% |
| 1998 | #2,292 | 39 | 0.0020% |
| 1997 | #2,327 | 36 | 0.0019% |
| 1996 | #2,563 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 1995 | #2,003 | 42 | 0.0022% |
| 1994 | #1,911 | 44 | 0.0023% |
| 1993 | #2,612 | 28 | 0.0014% |
| 1992 | #3,056 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1991 | #1,966 | 39 | 0.0019% |
| 1990 | #2,142 | 34 | 0.0017% |
| 1989 | #1,694 | 46 | 0.0023% |
| 1988 | #1,604 | 45 | 0.0024% |
| 1987 | #1,956 | 32 | 0.0017% |
| 1986 | #1,604 | 41 | 0.0022% |
| 1985 | #1,459 | 46 | 0.0025% |
| 1984 | #1,244 | 55 | 0.0030% |
| 1983 | #1,352 | 48 | 0.0027% |
| 1982 | #1,182 | 61 | 0.0034% |
| 1981 | #989 | 84 | 0.0047% |
| 1980 | #1,093 | 69 | 0.0039% |
| 1979 | #1,080 | 68 | 0.0039% |
| 1978 | #954 | 83 | 0.0051% |
| 1977 | #1,326 | 47 | 0.0029% |
| 1976 | #1,171 | 54 | 0.0034% |
| 1975 | #1,108 | 58 | 0.0037% |
| 1974 | #1,023 | 65 | 0.0041% |
| 1973 | #1,028 | 62 | 0.0040% |
| 1972 | #1,484 | 33 | 0.0020% |
| 1971 | #2,009 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1970 | #1,765 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1969 | #1,886 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1968 | #1,987 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1967 | #2,081 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1966 | #2,000 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1965 | #1,790 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1964 | #1,522 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 1963 | #1,675 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1962 | #1,235 | 40 | 0.0019% |
| 1961 | #1,505 | 29 | 0.0014% |
| 1960 | #1,502 | 29 | 0.0014% |
| 1959 | #1,394 | 32 | 0.0015% |
| 1958 | #1,617 | 24 | 0.0011% |
| 1957 | #1,731 | 22 | 0.0010% |
| 1956 | #2,211 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1955 | #1,706 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1954 | #1,649 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1953 | #2,233 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1952 | #2,435 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1951 | #2,096 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1950 | #3,171 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1948 | #3,481 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1947 | #3,996 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1944 | #3,661 | 5 | 0.0004% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Jeb Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are honest, benevolent, brilliant and often inventive, full of high inspirations. You are courageous, honest, determined, original and creative. You are a leader, especially for a cause. Sometimes you do not care to finish what you start, and may leave details to others. You can do well in position of authority, and prospers in intellectual and professional fields. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
Position and social status is very important for you and you are always looking for way to improve your position in society. You have power and ability to chose your own destiny and achieve anything you want in life. You can expand in any direction according to your will and the set of values. You have passion for justice and belong to the position of authority. You have an inherent courage and endurance to accomplish "The Impossible Dream". With the power comes responsibility. You hold keys to the material world, but with this gift comes high spiritual responsibility to be fair and true to others. You are philosophical and mature, determined and intense with a desire to endure, often religious.
✦ Jeb's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Jeb's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.