Yakov
Yakov is a Russian or Hebrew variant of the given names Jacob and James. People also give the nickname Yasha or Yashka used for Yakov.
- Hebrew
- Russian
- Bulgarian
Meaning & Origin of Yakov
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Yakov is a Russian or Hebrew variant of the given names Jacob and James. People also give the nickname Yasha or Yashka used for Yakov.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Hebrew
- Russian
- Bulgarian
The Story of Yakov
American parents first put Yakov on the record books as a baby boy name in 1953, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2024, when 164 Yakovs were born — ranking #1,221 that year. The 2010s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 31% of all recorded Yakovs. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #1,240 among baby boy names with 162 births, rising sharply (+25% over the past five years). In total, more than 4K Yakovs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1950s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Yakov
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Yakov. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Notable people named Yakov
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Yakov Blumkin (1900–1929), a Left Socialist-Revolutionary
- Yakov Cherevichenko (1894–1976), Soviet military leader
- Yakov Chubin (1893–1956), Soviet official
- Yakov Dzhugashvili (1907–1943), the oldest son of Joseph Stalin
- Yakov Eliashberg (born 1946), American mathematician
- Yakov Ehrlich (born 1988), former Russian football player
- Yakov Eshpay (1890–1963), Soviet composer
- Yakov Estrin (1923–1987), Soviet chess player
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Yakov
Phonetically similar names — useful when Yakov is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Yakov
What does the name Yakov mean?
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How popular is Yakov in 2026?
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About the name Yakov
Yakov is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1953 and has accumulated 4K births in the dataset. Yakov's peak popularity came in 2024 when it ranked #1,221. Use the chart and map above to compare Yakov's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2024 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "Y" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.