Pronunciation | [ʒaˈklin] |
---|---|
Gender | Female |
Word/name | French |
Meaning | "supplanter", "May God protect" |
Related names | Jackie, Jacquelyn, Jacques, , Jacky |
Popularity | see popular names |
Jacqueline (/ˈdʒæklᵻn/; French pronunciation: [ʒaˈklin]) is a female given name.
Jacqueline comes from French, as the feminine form of Jacques (English James). Jacques originated from 'Jacob', which is derived from the Hebrew meaning 'may God protect' or 'supplanter'.
Supplanter refers to a person who replaces someone or thing of lesser value, and this Hebrew meaning refers to Jacob supplanting Esau as recorded in the Hebrew Bible. 'May God protect' has a more positive connotation and is therefore the preferred meaning for the name.
Jacqueline was first used in the United Kingdom in the 17th century.
It has spelling variations and many variants in both spelling and pronunciation have come into use, such as Jacquelyn, Jackeline, Jacklyn, and Jaclyn. The diminutive for Jacqueline is Jacquie, Jackie, Jacque or Jacqui, which also has many variants.
Jacqueline is a very popular female first name, used in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Australia, South Africa and elsewhere.
One of the most famous persons to bear the name in the twentieth century is Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, née Jacqueline Lee Bouvier, often referred to as Jackie Kennedy following her marriage to U.S. President John F. Kennedy from 1953 to 1963. The name's popular image of elegance may derive at least in part from its association with her.