Given name & surname
Job
“persecuted”·“one who is persecuted; afflicted”
Job is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “persecuted” and “one who is persecuted; afflicted” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Original Hebrewאיוב
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “persecuted” and “one who is persecuted; afflicted” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Hebrew.
How it developed
In English usage, Job developed from Ἰώβ.
The story
In biblical tradition, Job is the name of the eponymous hero of the Book of Job.
In the Bible
In the Bible, the name Job appears in Job 1:1, Job 42:15, James 5:11.
- Job 1:1
- Job 42:15
- James 5:11
From biblical name research
Job through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 3,399
- 3,399 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2004
- 89 babies
- 2025
- 49
- #2,659 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −11%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 49 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 2,659 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 11.2% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 89 in 2004. In 2025, New York had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (5). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 3,667 as a first name in 2020; 2,534 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Job’s family of names
In Breton usage, Job has a diminutive in Jobig. In English usage, Job developed from the Ancient Greek form Ἰώβ. Job has a related form in Joby.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Job has relatives in 6 languages. Lines run from its Hebrew roots to each of them.
15 related names in 6 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 20
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 15
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 45
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
- Abigailshares a root
- Abramshares a root
- Abnershares a root
- Abielshares a root
- Joabshares a root
- Eliabshares a root
- Abimaelshares a root
- Abishaishares a root
Show 37 moreShow fewer
- Abbashares a root
- Abijahshares a root
- Abishares a root
- Abinershares a root
- Abiahshares a root
- Absalomshares a root
- Abiudshares a root
- Abiramshares a root
- Abinadabshares a root
- Abiashares a root
- Abihailshares a root
- Abiezershares a root
- Abidanshares a root
- Abidashares a root
- Abitubshares a root
- Abitalshares a root
- Abishurshares a root
- Abishuashares a root
- Abishalomshares a root
- Abishagshares a root
- Abinoamshares a root
- Abimelechshares a root
- Abijamshares a root
- Abihudshares a root
- Abihushares a root
- Abiatharshares a root
- Abiasaphshares a root
- Abi-Albonshares a root
- Ahabshares a root
- Jobstsee also
- Oholiabshares a root
- Moabshares a root
- Huram-abishares a root
- Chileabshares a root
- Ben-abinadabshares a root
- Bebaishares a root
- Barabbasshares a root
People named Job
- Joël MatipCameroonian-German association football player (born 1991)
- Erwin von WitzlebenGerman field marshal (1881–1944)
- Job in Islamone of the prophets in Islam
- Job Adriaenszoon BerckheydeDutch painter (1630–1693)
- Job GetchaEastern Orthodox archbishopborn 1974
- Job of PochayevRussian saint1551–1651
- Job CharnockBritish businessman1630–1692
- Job Bicknell EllisAmerican mycologist (1829–1905)
- John AkindeEnglish association football player (born 1989)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Job, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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