Etymology & Historical Origin of the Baby Name Jacqueline

The name Jacqueline is a quintessential French female name. It’s the feminized version of the French male name Jacques which corresponds to the anglicized James from the Latin Jacob from the Hebrew Yaakov. The origin of Yaakov/Jacob comes from the Old Testament and is borne by the younger twin son to Isaac and Rebecca. The Hebrew word "akev" literally translates to "at the heel" since Jacob was born at the heel of Esau (who was the first born twin). In Genesis 25:26, Jacob "came out with his hand holding Esau's heel, so his name was called Jacob." The Lord told Rebecca that the younger would be stronger, and that the older would serve the younger. As the Biblical story progresses, the cunning Jacob eventually supplants his older brother by stealing his birthright and his father's blessing. "Is he not rightly named Jacob?" Esau asks in Genesis 27:36. "For he has supplanted me these two times." So the name’s etymology is also tied to the word ‘supplanter.’ Other theories claim that Jacob (and thus James/Jacques) is tied to the Hebrew word “Ya'aqov'el” meaning ‘protected by God.’ Therefore, the name Jacqueline has somewhat diverse meaning. Jacqueline has been in use in France since the late Middle Ages and was eventually adopted by English-speaking people.

All About the Baby Name – Jacqueline

Personality

OF THE GIRL NAME JACQUELINE

The number Seven personality is deeply mystical and highly in tune with their spirituality. They operate on a different wavelength than the average joe. Spending time alone comes easily to Sevens, as it gives them time to contemplate philosophical, religious and spiritual ideas in an effort to find "real truth".  Sevens are wise, but often exude mystery as if they are tapped into something the rest of us don't understand. They love the outdoors and are fed by nature. Sevens are constantly seeking to understand human nature, our place in the universe, and the mystery of life in general. This makes them quite artistic and poetic, but they are also keen observers with high intellect - so they are equally scientific-minded. Sevens are charitable and care deeply about the human condition.

Popularity

OF THE GIRL NAME JACQUELINE

Jacqueline first appeared on the American popularity charts at the turn of the 20th century. The name progressed in popularity so that by 1928, she became a Top 100 choice for a girl’s name in the United States. Through the 1930s and 1940s, the name maintained a strong position on the charts but by the 1950s its appeal showed signs of decline. This would abruptly change in 1960 when John F. Kennedy became President of the United States bringing his lovely wife, Jacqueline, into the limelight. Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy was of French descent herself and her husband once famously exclaimed during a trip to France: “I do not think it entirely inappropriate to introduce myself to the audience. I am the man who accompanied Jacqueline Kennedy to Paris, and I have enjoyed it." The audience went crazy. You see, Jacqueline Kennedy had so charmed the French people with her fluent French, flawless poise and fashionable style. Jacqueline quickly became a name associated with grace, elegance, dignity and beauty. The high point of the name’s popularity came during the years of Kennedy’s administration not surprisingly. Nonetheless, Jacqueline maintained a position on the Top 100 list of most-favored girls’ names for 75 straight years. It only just fell off the list in 2004; although, it’s still a Top 100 favorite in the states of California and Texas. For all of those Francophile American parents, you simply cannot go wrong with an elegant name like Jacqueline. It exudes classiness and chic French style from its very pores.

Quick Facts

ON JACQUELINE

GENDER:

Girl

ORIGIN:

French

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES:

3

RANKING POPULARITY:

239

PRONUNCIATION:

JA-kә-lin or zhak-LEEN

SIMPLE MEANING:

Protected by God, the supplanter, at the heel

Characteristics

OF JACQUELINE

Mystical

Wise

Eccentric

Intuitive

Imaginative

Philosophical

Solitary

Cultural References to the Baby Name – Jacqueline

Literary Characters

OF THE BABY NAME JACQUELINE

Jacqueline De Bellefort is a main character in Agatha Christie’s 1937 novel, Death on the Nile, which was made into a stylish movie of the same name in 1978, starring Mia Farrow as Jacqueline. Jackie is part of a love triangle, along with her best friend, the wealthy Linnet, who steals her fiancé, Simon, from her and marries him. As with all of the prolific Christie’s mysteries, character development is secondary to plot, nonetheless, our Jackie is modern and intriguing, and holds her own in most uncomfortable circumstances.

Childrens Books

ON THE BABY NAME JACQUELINE

We cannot find any childrens books with the first name Jacqueline


Popular Songs

ON JACQUELINE

Jacqueline
a song by Franz Ferdinand

Famous People

NAMED JACQUELINE

Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis (former First Lady)
Jacqueline Bisset (actress)
Jacqueline Brookes (actress)
Jacqueline Obradors (actress)
Jacqueline Susann (author)
Jacqueline, Countess of Hainaut (royalty)

Children of Famous People

NAMED JACQUELINE

We cannot find any children of famous people with the first name Jacqueline

Historic Figures

WITH THE NAME JACQUELINE

Needs no introduction, no explanation, no biography, no commentary – she simply is. Born July 28, 1929, she died on May 19, 1994, and lived an amazing life in those 64 years. Born to privileged wealth with old world credentials, she was both a debutante and a “working girl” of the fifties. She married into more wealth and brought a needed polish and class to the Kennedy clan. As First Lady, she reintroduced a style and grace to the White House that had been sadly lacking, and she restored the manse to its historical splendor as a symbol of pride for all Americans. She and President Kennedy symbolized youth and energy, and with their adorable children, became our very own “royal family” in the most democratic of ways. After all too short a reign, Mrs. Kennedy held a grieving nation together during the dark days of the assassination and its aftermath, through the example of her own quiet dignity. She had practically achieved sainthood. Then - oops – she went and married a little old Greek billionaire oil tycoon with shadowy credentials, and a shocked populace said” “WHAT??!!” An international jet-set lifestyle followed, during which time it seemed she spent whatever spare time she had from the yachts and private planes in Tiffany’s. Nonetheless, we still hung on her every whispery word and clamored for more and more pictures and stories offered up by a willing paparazzi. This avid attention continued into her later years, when she settled down in New York with her companion and concentrated on her publishing career, civic causes and her family. Probably the most famous woman of the last century, she was one of a kind – iconic, intelligent, elegant, and yet aloof enough to remain a mystery in the glare of the spotlight. By our feminist standards today, she may have seemed a little too much in the “stand-by-your-man” mold, but there is no doubt that she made her own indelible mark on the world.