Jacques

ZHAK
French variation of James and Jacob
"supplanter"

Jacques Origin and Meaning

The name Jacques is a boy's name of French origin meaning "supplanter".

Regal and ancient feeling, Jacques has been declining in popularity in its native France, but in the UK, it saw a surprising revival in 2022. Jumping from somewhere around the #2500 mark straight to #600, it was seven times more popular than in 2021.

Derived from the Latin name, Iacobus (or Jacobus), Jacques is the French form of Jacob and James. With a slightly sharper sound than the on-trend Jack and with a bit more flair, it still sounds fresh in the UK.

Jacques is the name of a number of saints and it is also associated with philosophy. Three well-known thinkers, Rousseau, Lacan, and Derrida, all share it as a given name. A Disney name via Lilo and Stitch and Finding Nemo, it also has literary ties to Shakespeare's As You Like it and James Baldwin's Giovanni's Room.

Recent interest in the name might have been sparked by Rugby Union Coach Jacques Nienabar, by film writer and director Jacques Audiard, or perhaps by the character of Jacques Snicket, who featured in the Netflix adaptation of A Series of Unfortunate Events.

Alternatively, it might just be parents looking for an alternative to Jack, and landing on the French form, to fit in with other trending choices, such as Remy, Louis/Louie, Hugo, Margot, and Sylvie.

# 914 in the US

Jacques Rank in US Top 1000

Jacques Popularity

Famous People Named Jacques

  • Jacques René Chirac22nd President of France
  • Jacques CartierFrench explorer of Quebec
  • JacquesYves Cousteau, French oceanographer
  • JeanJacques Rousseau, Swiss philosopher
  • (Joseph) Jacques Omer PlanteCanadian ice hockey player
  • Jackie Élie "Jacques" DerridaFrench philosopher
  • Jacques Romain Georges BrelBelgian singer,songwriter
  • Jacques Jean Jaroslaw MariePrince of France, Duke of Orléans, son of French pretender Prince Henri
  • Jacques MayolChinese,born French free diver
  • Jacques Marie Émile LacanFrench psychiatrist
  • Jacques LoebGerman,American physiologist and biologist
  • Jacques Berman Webster IIbirth name of American rapper Travis Scott
  • Jacques Dimitri ReevesAmerican NFL football player
  • Jacques Rashaud McClendonAmerican NFL football player
  • Jacques E. CesaireAmerican NFL football player
  • (Jacques) Dominique WilkinsAmerican basketball player
  • Jacques Lucien MonodFrench biologist and Nobel Prize winner
  • Jacques Henry KallisSouth African cricketer
  • Jacques ToubonFrench politician
  • Jacques Honoré Rainier Grimaldi (b. 2014)Hereditary Prince of Monaco, Marquis of Baux; son of Prince Albert II

Jacques in Pop Culture

  • Jacques Snicketcharacter in "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events"
  • Jacquesjester in video game "Spyro the Dragon"
  • Jacquescharacter in The Fleurville Trilogy by Countess De Segur
  • Jacques the Cleaner Shrimpcharacter in Disney's "Finding Nemo"
  • Dr. Jacques Von Hämstervielcharacter in Disney's "Lilo & Stitch"
  • Jacques Blanccharacter in the Onimusha video game series
  • Jacques The Scratchercharacter in computer game "Wizard 101"
  • Jacques Beaupierrecharacter in Aaron Elkins' "Skeleton Dance"
  • Jacques Dubrinskycharacter in the Carpathian Novels by Christine Feehan
  • Jacquescharacter in an episode of "The Simpsons"
  • "Frere Jacques" children's song
  • Jacques Renaultcharacter in the TV series "Twin Peaks"
  • Inspector Jacques Clouseaucharacter in The Pink Panther film series
  • Jacquesrobot parrot sidekick of youtuber Jontron