Yaqub

♂ Boy

Pronounced yah-KOOB /jɑːˈkuːb/High

Meaning: He who supplants or follows at the heel; the Arabic form of the biblical Jacob, from Hebrew Yaakov meaning he grasps the heel or may God protectHigh

In 30 seconds: Yaqub is the Arabic and Islamic form of the biblical name Jacob, meaning he who supplants or follows at the heel. Revered in Islam as a prophet — the father of the twelve tribes — it carries deep religious authority across the Muslim world.

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Origin HighArabic, Hebrew

MeaningHe who supplants or follows at the heel; the Arabic form of the biblical Jacob, from Hebrew Yaakov meaning he grasps the heel or may God protect

U.S. rank (2025)#3124 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births39 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2019

Total births (all-time)≈ 642

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

Yaqub is the Arabic transliteration of the Hebrew Yaakov, the patriarch Jacob of the Old Testament and Quran. The Hebrew name is linked to the word aqeb meaning heel, referencing the biblical story of Jacob grasping his twin brother Esau's heel at birth.

As one of the prophets named in the Quran, Yaqub holds special prestige in Islamic naming tradition. The name is used across the Arab world, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and anywhere Islam is practiced. It is the equivalent of Jacob in Arabic-speaking communities and maintains its religious weight in all its forms.

Did you know? In the Quran, Yaqub (Jacob) is mentioned as a prophet and the grandson of Ibrahim (Abraham), connecting this name to the very root of the Abrahamic faith tradition shared by Islam, Judaism, and Christianity.

Overall data confidence 94%

Behind the Name — Yaqub — Arabic etymology and Quranic usageEncyclopedia of the Quran — Yaqub — prophet status and narrative

Variations

YaqoobYakubJacobYaakov

Nicknames

YakKubi

Famous Bearers

★Yaqub (Jacob) (biblical/Quranic figure)
The patriarch Jacob, son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham, revered in the Hebrew Bible and the Quran as a prophet and father of the twelve tribes of Israel.

If you like Yaqub…

Yusuf— same Quranic prophet name and Arabic heritage

Ibrahim— fellow Abrahamic patriarch name in the Arabic-Islamic tradition

Isa— same Quranic prophet name category

Dawud— shares the biblical-Quranic dual heritage of divine prophet names

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By themehebrew arabic biblical two-syllable islamic prophet-name

By meaningGod / Divine Protector

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Yaqub mean?

Yaqub means he who supplants or follows at the heel, the Arabic form of the biblical Jacob from Hebrew Yaakov.

How do you pronounce Yaqub?

It is said yah-KOOB, two syllables with stress on the second.

Is Yaqub a boy or girl name?

Yaqub is used exclusively as a boys name, as it is the Arabic form of the patriarch Jacob.

How popular is Yaqub?

Yaqub is common throughout the Muslim world and is used in Muslim communities in the West, though less common than Jacob or Yusuf in English-speaking countries.