Jacob

Being named Jacob Christian Schneekloth, it would be impossible to guess that I am Korean American. I have many Korean friends, and my girlfriend is also Korean. It’s weird when I speak Korean to her or all my friends, and they still have to call me “Jacob” instead of a traditional Korean name. 

I do like my first name though. Some may say it’s boring or too basic, but I appreciate the simplicity. Jacob means “supplanter” or “usurper” (Bradley). I find this definition amusing, although I don’t think my parents knew it meant this when they named me. My middle name is Christian, which reflects my family’s Christian background. My last name is Schneekloth, which comes from my dad’s adoptive German parents. Obviously enough, the place I associate with where my name stood out the most isn’t the United States, Germany, or even the church: it’s South Korea. 

I lived in Korea for almost half my life. Those crucial seven years between ages four and eleven made me who I am. Living there with a name so “white” and complex made me realize that I was not the same as others. I remember every time I went to the hospital, they would always cut my name off at “제이콥 슈니 (Jacob Schnee)” instead of “제이콥 슈니클로스 (Jacob Schneekloth),” as my long name didn’t fit into the Korean medical database. Going to kindergarten and elementary school was also an interesting experience, as all the kids always had a traditional Korean name, while I wasn’t ever given one. 

My parents didn’t give me a Korean name because they did not think it would fit me. My mother, although Korean, did not want her child to have a Korean name and thus named me Jacob. Although my name stood out within the Korean societal norms, it didn’t hinder my lifestyle. Funny enough, people always found a unique way to “Koreanize” my name. For example, my nickname in Korea was “Cobi” (pronounced Kobe, like Kobe Bryant). This is because they took the “cob” of “Jacob” and added a little sound after it. 

Even as a kid, I never thought much of my name being different, long, complex, or anything else it is. I didn’t feel like an outsider in Korea because of how welcoming the people were, and I embrace the name with my whole heart to this day. Even if it’s a pain to spell out my last name wherever I go, I’ll always be fond of my name.

Bibliography 

Bradley, Sarah. “What Does the Name Jacob Mean?” Verywell Family, Verywell Family, 8 Mar. 2023, www.verywellfamily.com/jacob-name-meaning-origin-popularity-5119499. 

Popular Baby Names, www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/babyname.cgi. Accessed 11 Feb. 2024.