יַעֲקֹב
Yaakov means “heel holder, one who follows”
Yaakov is a boy's name of Biblical origin.
Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebecca, was the father of the twelve tribes of Israel.
- In Hebrew
- יַעֲקֹב
- On an ID card
- יעקב
- In English letters
- Yaakov
- Other English spellings
- Jacob, Yakov, Yaacov, Kobi, Ya'akov
- Other Hebrew spellings
- יעקב-קובי
- Meaning
- Heel holder, one who follows
- Origin
- Biblical
- Given to
- Boys
- Themes
- From the Bible
- Gematria value
- 182
65,251 Jewish Israelis born since 1949 carry the name Yaakov.
- 11 of them are women and girls, and 65,240 are men and boys.
- 1,540 of them were born in 1950, more than in any other year.
- Carriers born 2020 to 2024: 3,935, against 3,671 born 2010 to 2014, so its share of births is about the same.
- The total includes the other Hebrew spellings the register counts separately: יעקב-קובי. The chart shows the spelling יעקב 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 Yaakov is counted in each population group.
These are the people born 1949 to 2024 who carry the spelling יעקב 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 girls | 11 | 0 | – |
| Jewish boys | 65,203 | 822 | 18 of 541 |
| Muslim boys | 7 | fewer than 5 | – |
In 2024, Yaakov ranked 18 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 Yaakov in theme or origin.
These are the questions people ask about the name Yaakov.
What does the name Yaakov mean?
Yaakov means “heel holder, one who follows”. Yaakov is a boy's name of Biblical origin. Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebecca, was the father of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Is Yaakov a boy's name or a girl's name?
Yaakov is mainly a boy's name. Of the 65,251 Jewish Israelis born since 1949 who carry it, 11 are women and girls and 65,240 are men and boys.
How do you write Yaakov in Hebrew?
Yaakov is written יעקב in Hebrew. With vowel points it is written יַעֲקֹב. The register also counts these other Hebrew spellings: יעקב-קובי.
How many people in Israel are named Yaakov?
65,251 Jewish Israelis born 1949 to 2024 carry Yaakov today. The most were born in 1950. In 2024, Yaakov ranked 18 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.