UK boy's name
Yacob
A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter" or "one who follows".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Yacob is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Yacob popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4270, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2013, with 8 births.
This profile covers 95 England and Wales registrations across 18 recorded years from 2001 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 94 living people in the UK are called Yacob. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Yacob ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2013, when 8 boys were registered as Yacob.
- • About 94 living people in the UK are estimated to have Yacob as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4270
2024
Births in 2024
4
Latest year
Peak year
2013
8 births
Estimated living
94
2026
Meaning
What does Yacob mean?
The name Yacob has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, tracing back to ancient times. It is a variant spelling of the biblical name Jacob, which is derived from the Hebrew word "ya'aqob," meaning "to follow" or "to supplant." This name carries deep religious and cultural significance in Judaism and Christianity.
The name Yacob appears prominently in the Book of Genesis, where Jacob, the son of Isaac and Rebekah, is one of the three patriarchs of the Israelites. He is also the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. The story of Jacob's life, including his struggle with the angel and his renaming to Israel, is a pivotal narrative in the Hebrew Bible.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Yacob can be found in the ancient Jewish text, the Talmud, which dates back to the 3rd century CE. The Talmud contains various references to individuals named Yacob, indicating the widespread use of this name among the Jewish community during that period.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Yacob. One of the most famous was Yacob ben Asher (1269-1343), a prominent Hebrew grammarian and codifier of the Masoretic Text, which established the authoritative version of the Hebrew Bible.
Another notable Yacob was Yacob ben Yosef ibn Nun (1450-1508), a Spanish-born Jewish scholar and philosopher who lived during the Golden Age of Jewish culture in Spain before the expulsion of Jews from the Iberian Peninsula.
In the realm of religion, Yacob Baradaeus (500-578) was an influential Syrian bishop and leader of the Miaphysite Christian movement, which emphasized the unity of Christ's divine and human natures. His efforts helped to spread and strengthen this branch of Christianity in the Middle East.
Yacob Sewallas (1592-1667) was an Ethiopian philosopher, poet, and scholar who played a significant role in the development of the Ge'ez literary tradition and the promotion of education in his country.
Finally, Yacob Ledesma (1900-1957) was a renowned Filipino composer and conductor who contributed greatly to the development of Filipino music and orchestral works, earning him the title of "Father of Filipino Contemporary Music."
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Yacob, a name with deep roots in ancient cultures and religions, and a rich tapestry of historical significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Yacob over time
The chart below shows babies named Yacob registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2001 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Yacob, the clearest high point is 2013. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Yacob by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Yacob was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #3525 | 21 | 4 |
| 2010s | #3021 | 43 | 7 |
| 2000s | #3171 | 31 | 7 |
Related
Names similar to Yacob
- Yusuf 11,801
- Yahya 5,758
- Yunus 2,009
- Yaseen 1,799
- Yasin 1,797
- Yuvraj 1,605
- Yaqub 1,517
- Yousef 1,489
- Yousuf 1,454
- Yasir 1,056
- Yash 876
- Youssef 749
FAQ
Yacob: questions and answers
How popular is the name Yacob in the UK right now?
In 2024, Yacob was ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Yacob most popular?
The peak year on record was 2013, with 8 babies registered as Yacob in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Yacob?
A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter" or "one who follows".
How many people are called Yacob in the UK?
A total of 95 babies have been registered as Yacob across the 18 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.