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Yaakov

♂ Boy

Pronounced YAH-ah-kov /ˈjɑː.ɑː.kɒv/High

Meaning: Supplanter; he who grasps the heel; original Hebrew form of Jacob, from Hebrew Ya'aqov (to follow at the heel, to supplant)High

In 30 seconds: The original Hebrew form of Jacob, meaning 'supplanter' or 'he who grasps the heel.' Jacob/Yaakov is the patriarch of the twelve tribes of Israel — one of the most important figures in the Abrahamic religions.

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Origin HighHebrew

MeaningSupplanter; he who grasps the heel; original Hebrew form of Jacob, from Hebrew Ya'aqov (to follow at the heel, to supplant)

U.S. rank (2025)#1025 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births218 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2021

Total births (all-time)≈ 5,988

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Yaakov is the Hebrew form of Jacob (Ya'aqov), from the root meaning 'to follow at the heel' or 'to supplant.' In Genesis, Jacob grasped his twin brother Esau's heel at birth. Later he wrestled with God and was renamed Israel. He fathered the twelve tribal patriarchs.

Yaakov is used in Orthodox and traditional Jewish communities in the U.S. It ranked #978 for boys in 2024.

Did you know? Jacob is the only person in the Hebrew Bible who literally wrestles with God — in Genesis 32, he wrestles all night with a divine figure at the ford of the Jabbok River and is renamed Israel (he who strives with God), making this the naming origin of the Jewish people themselves.

Overall data confidence 95%

Behind the Name — Jacob — Hebrew etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

JacobYakovYankel

Nicknames

Yaki

Famous Bearers

★Jacob/Yaakov (Patriarch) (biblical)
Third patriarch of the Israelites, son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham. Renamed Israel after wrestling with God, he was the father of the twelve sons whose descendants became the twelve tribes of Israel.

If you like Yaakov…

Jacob— the English form of the same Hebrew name

Yitzchak— Hebrew form of Isaac, the patriarch father of Jacob

Moshe— Hebrew form of Moses, in the same Orthodox Jewish naming tradition

Yosef— Hebrew form of Joseph (Jacob's son), in the same tradition

Avraham— Hebrew form of Abraham, the grandfather of Jacob

Explore names like Yaakov

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Yaakov mean?

Yaakov means 'supplanter' or 'he who grasps the heel,' the Hebrew form of Jacob (Ya'aqov).

How do you pronounce Yaakov?

It's said YAH-ah-kov — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Yaakov a boy or girl name?

Yaakov is used as a boys' name.

How popular is Yaakov?

Yaakov ranked #978 for U.S. boys in 2024.