Yaakov Boy

Popularity: #722 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: YAH-kov //ˈjɑː.kɔv//

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: Supplanter

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Yaakov is of Hebrew origin, derived from the root word "עקב" (akev), which means "heel" or "to follow." This etymology is significant as it relates to the biblical figure Jacob, who was born holding onto the heel of his twin brother Esau, as recounted in the Book of Genesis. The name appears in various forms throughout history, transitioning from Hebrew to Greek as "Iakobos," then to Latin as "Iacobus," and eventually into Old French as "Jacques," before arriving in English as "James." This linguistic journey highlights the name's deep biblical roots and its enduring presence in various cultures and languages.

Historically, Yaakov is most prominently associated with the patriarch Jacob, a key figure in the Hebrew Bible, who is considered one of the founding fathers of the Israelites. His story, which includes the famous account of wrestling with an angel and receiving the name Israel, has been a central narrative in Jewish tradition and has influenced Christian and Islamic texts as well.

The name's significance is further underscored by its frequent appearance in religious texts, including the Septuagint and the Vulgate, as well as its inclusion in the King James Bible in the early 17th century. Culturally, the name Yaakov carries rich symbolic associations, representing themes of struggle, perseverance, and transformation, as exemplified by Jacob's life journey.

It is often celebrated in Jewish tradition, particularly during the naming ceremony for boys, where the name is bestowed in honor of the biblical patriarch. The diminutive form "Yaki" is sometimes used affectionately, reflecting the name's versatility and warmth in familial contexts.

Overall, Yaakov remains a name steeped in historical and cultural significance, resonating through centuries of religious and literary tradition.

Famous people named Yaakov

In this section, you will find notable people named Yaakov. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Yaakov who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Yaakov who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Yaakov Agmon is a composer and conductor best known for his work in Israeli music and theater.

Yaakov Katz is a journalist and author best known for his role as editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post.

Yaakov Kreizler is a mathematician best known for his contributions to number theory and algebra.

Yaakov Shwekey is a singer best known for his contributions to Jewish music and his albums such as.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Yaakov, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

LeviMiriamRuthDavidEstherShimon

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Yaakov. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

YakovJacobJamesJacekJakobYacobJagoJace

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Yaakov was first seen in the United States in 1948.

Yaakov has ranked as high as #1990 nationally, which occurred in 2021, and has been most popular in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, California, and Florida.

In the past 5 years the name Yaakov has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Yaakov is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Yaakov was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Yaakov.

Year Total Births Boy
2025 218 218
2024 233 233
2023 234 234
2022 205 205
2021 237 237
2020 180 180
2019 160 160
2018 186 186
2017 189 189
2016 159 159
2015 207 207
2014 160 160
2013 178 178
2012 155 155
2011 153 153
2010 181 181
2009 131 131
2008 123 123
2007 137 137
2006 135 135
2005 120 120
2004 110 110
2003 112 112
2002 107 107
2001 104 104
2000 91 91
1999 106 106
1998 66 66
1997 94 94
1996 61 61
1995 78 78
1994 78 78
1993 56 56
1992 71 71
1991 80 80
1990 62 62
1989 75 75
1988 70 70
1987 94 94
1986 114 114
1985 57 57
1984 55 55
1983 38 38
1982 34 34
1981 47 47
1980 40 40
1979 37 37
1978 26 26
1977 36 36
1976 28 28
1975 23 23
1974 23 23
1973 27 27
1972 20 20
1971 21 21
1970 19 19
1969 20 20
1968 12 12
1967 13 13
1966 10 10
1965 6 6
1964 5 5
1963 5 5
1961 9 9
1960 5 5
1959 8 8
1958 9 9
1957 6 6
1955 8 8
1954 9 9
1953 8 8
1952 6 6
1950 5 5
1948 6 6

Top States for Yaakov (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
NJ 101
48%
NY 81
39%
CA 9
4%
MD 7
3%
FL 6
3%
IL 5
2%