עקיבא
Akiva means “related to Yaakov, from the root for heel”
Akiva is a boy's name of Talmudic origin.
A leading sage of the Mishnah era, said to have begun studying Torah at forty.
- In Hebrew
- עקיבא
- In English letters
- Akiva
- Other English spellings
- Akiba
- Other Hebrew spellings
- עקיבה
- Meaning
- Related to Yaakov, from the root for heel
- Origin
- Talmudic
- Given to
- Boys
- Gematria value
- 183
3,501 Jewish Israelis born since 1949 carry the name Akiva.
- 3,501 of them are men and boys, and fewer than 5 are women and girls.
- 135 of them were born in 2024, more than in any other year.
- Carriers born 2020 to 2024: 584, against 431 born 2010 to 2014, so its share of births is growing.
- The total includes the other Hebrew spellings the register counts separately: עקיבה. The chart shows the spelling עקיבא alone.
Central Bureau of Statistics register, April 2025. People who changed their name are counted under the one they carry now, and a year with fewer than five shows as zero.
This is how Akiva is counted in each population group.
These are the people born 1949 to 2024 who carry the spelling עקיבא today, in each population group and sex the register lists for it. The rank counts the names given in 2024, and 1 is the most given. A count under 5 is not published, so the table says “fewer than 5”, and 0 means nobody.
| Population group | Carriers | Born in 2024 | Rank in 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jewish boys | 3,361 | 135 | 119 of 541 |
In 2024, Akiva ranked 119 of 541 among the names given to Jewish boys.
Source: the Central Bureau of Statistics table of current first names of people born 1949 to 2024, by sex and population group (release 391/2025 of 8 December 2025, read on 2 November 2026). Groups and sexes with no row for this spelling are left out.
These six names are close to Akiva in theme or origin.
These are the questions people ask about the name Akiva.
What does the name Akiva mean?
Akiva means “related to Yaakov, from the root for heel”. Akiva is a boy's name of Talmudic origin. A leading sage of the Mishnah era, said to have begun studying Torah at forty.
Is Akiva a boy's name or a girl's name?
Akiva is mainly a boy's name. Of the 3,501 Jewish Israelis born since 1949 who carry it, 3,501 are men and boys and fewer than 5 are women and girls.
How do you write Akiva in Hebrew?
Akiva is written עקיבא in Hebrew. The register also counts these other Hebrew spellings: עקיבה.
How many people in Israel are named Akiva?
3,501 Jewish Israelis born 1949 to 2024 carry Akiva today. The most were born in 2024. In 2024, Akiva ranked 119 of 541 among the names given to Jewish boys.
Counts are Jewish Israelis born 1949 to 2024 who carry the name today, from the Central Bureau of Statistics register of April 2025. Meanings follow the standard etymologies of Hebrew name references, and where nobody can be sure the page says so.