Jaap

Jaap is a Dutch abbreviation of the biblical name Jakob, which traces back to the ancient Hebrew name Jaʿakow (יַעֲקֹב). The exact meaning is not definitively clarified.

What does the name Jaap mean?

Jaap is a Dutch short form of the name Jakob, which has its origin in the ancient Hebrew Jaʿakow (יַעֲקֹב). The exact meaning of the name is not entirely secure, but it is believed to mean either 'God may protect' or 'the heel holder.' More information about the meaning can be found on the page about the name Jakob. In the Netherlands, Jaap is a widely used and popular name.

Where does the name Jaap come from?

The name Jaap, as a variant of Jakob, has its origin in the Hebrew Jaʿakow (יַעֲקֹב). This can be interpreted in ancient Hebrew as a phrase for 'God protects' or 'God may protect.' Folk-etymologically, it is also associated with the ancient Hebrew term 'akow' for 'to hold the heel,' which is derived from 'akew' for 'heel.' The ancient Hebrew

How do you pronounce Jaap?

Jaap is pronounced like 'Yahp.'

When is the name day of Jaap?

The main name days for Jaap fall on May 3 (James the Less), July 25 (James the Greater), and October 6 (Patriarch Jacob).

Popularity

In Germany, Jaap is a rather rare first name. In 2023, it ranked 5,488th on the list of the most common male baby names. Its best ranking was in 2010, when it reached 2,204th place. Over the last ten years, Jaap has been given as a first name about 20 times, placing it 5,210th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 5,020th. The global popularity and distribution of Jaap is also interesting.

Famous people

• Jaap Berghuis (Dutch artist)
• Jaap Boot (Dutch long jumper)
• Jaap Bos (Dutch footballer)
• Jaap Bulder (Dutch footballer)
• Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (*1948) Dutch politician and former NATO Secretary General
• Jaap Drupsteen (artist from America)
• Jaap Eggermont (Dutch musician)
• Jaap Goudsmit (physicist from the Netherlands)
• Jaap Kool (composer from the Netherlands)
• Jaap Krijtenburg (rower from the Netherlands)
• Jaap Kruithof (writer from Belgium)
• Jaap M. Hemelrijk (archaeologist from the Netherlands)
• Jaap Mansfeld (philosopher from the Netherlands)
• Jaap Reesink (Dutch rower)
• Jaap Schroeder (Dutch violinist)
• Jaap Speyer (Dutch film director)
• Jaap Stam (football player)
• Jaap ter Haar (Dutch writer (1922-1998))
• Jaap van der Wiel (Dutch football player)
• Jaap van Duijn (Dutch footballer)