Yaakov

Yaakov - A very unique male name

Yaakov appeared on the charts for the first time in 1953 on position #1461. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Yaakov and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Yaakov? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Yaakov. The baby boy name Yaakov was given to 197 baby boys in 2025, ranking #957 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 7,443 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Yaakov peaked in popularity 40 years ago in 1986 on position 760.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Yaakov, 1-5?

Yaakov is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Yaakov is currently topping the baby name charts in New Jersey at position #84 - and is the least popular in Florida at position #1,616.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Yaakov is where you live.

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Yaakov origin and meaning

Hebrew

The Hebrew form of Jacob — traditionally 'holder of the heel' and 'supplanter,' from the Genesis story of Jacob's birth

Yaakov is Jacob in its original Hebrew form, the patriarch who fathered the twelve tribes of Israel. The name's traditional meaning comes from the birth story in Genesis, where the infant grasps his twin Esau's heel. In the US, Yaakov has been used since 1953 almost entirely in Jewish families and has risen gently in recent years.

Attested etymology

Yaakov is a 6 letter name with 3 syllables.

To see famous people named Yaakov, pop culture references for the name Yaakov and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Yaakov

We've found the following names that sound similar to Yaakov, sorted by popularity.

Yusuf / Yosef / Yousef / Yakov / Youssef / Yusef / Yousuf / Yousif / Yoseph / Yaqub /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Yaakov

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Yaakov a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Yaakov?

3 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

yah-ah-KOHV · /jɑːəˈkoʊv/

Around the world

• Yakov (Russian) — The Russian form of Jacob
• Jacob (English) — The English form of the same Hebrew name

Spellings and nicknames

• Yakov — A transliteration variant, a name in its own right in the data
• Jacob — The English form, a separate established name
• Yaacov — An alternative transliteration

Famous bearers

• Yaakov Shwekey — American Orthodox Jewish singer, a leading voice in contemporary Jewish music (b. 1977) Contemporary

Style

BiblicalInternational

Why parents choose it

Parents choose Yaakov to give Jacob in Hebrew — a patriarch's name carried in its original form. It feels rooted, traditional and unmistakably Jewish.

Worth knowing

• Non-Hebrew speakers will need the pronunciation (yah-ah-KOHV, not YAY-kov)
• Will often be anglicised to Jacob on paperwork unless corrected