Yakov
How to say it: YAH-kuv · /ˈjɑkəv/
Russian form of Hebrew Yaakov meaning 'supplanter' - long used in Russian Jewish and Orthodox tradition.
Yakov was the 668th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 153 babies (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are up about 15% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #587 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #668 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 153 |
| Share of births | 1 in 8,936 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | +15% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #587 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
This decade marks the strongest point yet for Yakov in the 2020s. At its peak now, upward movement is expected to continue.
What goes with it
Sharp at the start then softer, spoken YAH kuv, it carries a crisp breathy biblical weight. Yosef echoes its traditional spirit.
Parents who love Yakov also love
Nicknames
- Yasha
- Yak
Honouring a Yakov in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Yakov is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, Hebrew, Russian.
Famous people named Yakov
- Yakov Zeldovich (1914–1987)Soviet physicist, physical chemist and cosmologist
- Yakov Sinai (born 1935)Russian-American mathematician
- Yakov Sverdlov (1885–1919)Soviet politician
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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