UK boy's name
Yaqoub
A masculine Arabic name of Hebrew origin meaning "he 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.
Yaqoub is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Yaqoub popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2671, with 8 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2020, with 16 births.
This profile covers 105 England and Wales registrations across 15 recorded years from 2008 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 104 living people in the UK are called Yaqoub. 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
- • Yaqoub ranked #2671 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 8 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2020, when 16 boys were registered as Yaqoub.
- • About 104 living people in the UK are estimated to have Yaqoub as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2671
2024
Births in 2024
8
Latest year
Peak year
2020
16 births
Estimated living
104
2026
Meaning
What does Yaqoub mean?
The name Yaqoub has its roots in the Arabic language and culture, originating in the Middle East. It is derived from the Semitic root word "aqab," which means "to follow" or "to succeed." This name holds significant historical and religious significance, particularly in the Abrahamic faiths.
In the Arabic language, Yaqoub is the equivalent of the biblical name Jacob, which is found in the Torah, the Old Testament, and the Quran. According to these religious texts, Jacob was one of the patriarchs and a prominent figure in the Israelite tradition. He was the son of Isaac and Rebekah, and the father of the twelve tribes of Israel.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Yaqoub can be traced back to ancient times, as it appears in various historical and religious texts. One of the most notable references is in the Quran, where the story of Yaqoub (Jacob) and his sons is recounted in detail.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Yaqoub. One of the earliest was Yaqoub ibn Killis (c. 930–991), a renowned mathematician and astronomer from Iraq who made significant contributions to the development of algebra and spherical trigonometry.
Another prominent figure was Yaqoub al-Mansur (1160–1199), the fifth ruler of the Almohad Caliphate in North Africa and Andalusia. He was known for his military conquests and his efforts to promote education and cultural development within his realm.
In the realm of literature, Yaqoub Sanu (1493–1562) was a renowned Persian poet and scholar from Iran. His poetic works, particularly his ghazals, were highly influential and celebrated during his time.
Yaqoub Artin Pasha (1825–1891), an Egyptian prime minister and diplomat, played a significant role in the modernization of Egypt in the 19th century. He was instrumental in establishing the country's first railway system and worked to strengthen Egypt's international relations.
In more recent history, Yaqoub Khurshid (1920–2005) was a prominent Pakistani lawyer and jurist who served as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan from 1968 to 1975.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Yaqoub throughout history, reflecting its enduring presence and significance across various cultures and disciplines.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Yaqoub over time
The chart below shows babies named Yaqoub registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2008 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 Yaqoub, the clearest high point is 2020. The latest England and Wales figure is 8 births in 2024, compared with 16 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Yaqoub by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Yaqoub 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 | #2447 | 47 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3260 | 49 | 8 |
| 2000s | #3451 | 9 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Yaqoub
- 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
Yaqoub: questions and answers
How popular is the name Yaqoub in the UK right now?
In 2024, Yaqoub was ranked #2671 for boys in England and Wales, with 8 births registered.
When was Yaqoub most popular?
The peak year on record was 2020, with 16 babies registered as Yaqoub in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Yaqoub?
A masculine Arabic name of Hebrew origin meaning "he who follows".
How many people are called Yaqoub in the UK?
A total of 105 babies have been registered as Yaqoub across the 15 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.