NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Yoab

A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "fathered by Yahweh".

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.

Yoab is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Yoab popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 5 births.

This profile covers 14 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2020 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 14 living people in the UK are called Yoab. 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

  • Yoab ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2022, when 5 boys were registered as Yoab.
  • About 14 living people in the UK are estimated to have Yoab as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5119

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

2022

5 births

Estimated living

14

2026

Meaning

What does Yoab mean?

The name Yoab has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is believed to be derived from the Hebrew word "av," which means "father," and the prefix "yo," which may signify "Yahweh is." As such, the name Yoab could be interpreted to mean "Yahweh is father" or "fathered by Yahweh."

One of the earliest and most notable references to the name Yoab can be found in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the books of Samuel and Chronicles. Yoab was the name of the nephew of King David and the commander of David's army. He played a significant role in the events described in these biblical accounts, including the civil war between David and Ishbosheth, the son of Saul.

The earliest recorded examples of individuals bearing the name Yoab can be traced back to the biblical period and the ancient Israelite culture. In addition to the biblical figure mentioned above, there were several other historical figures named Yoab throughout the centuries.

One such individual was Yoab ben Zeruiah, who lived during the reign of King David in the 10th century BCE. He was a prominent military leader and played a crucial role in consolidating David's reign over Israel.

Another notable bearer of the name was Yoab ben Shemaiah, a Jewish scribe who lived in the 3rd century BCE during the Hellenistic period. He is credited with contributing to the translation of the Hebrew Bible into Greek, known as the Septuagint.

In the 1st century CE, there was a Jewish revolutionary named Yoab ben Nahum, who participated in the Great Revolt against the Roman Empire. He was a prominent figure in the Jewish resistance movement during that period.

During the Middle Ages, Yoab ben Shmuel was a renowned Jewish philosopher and theologian who lived in the 11th century. He wrote extensively on topics related to Jewish law and philosophy, and his works had a significant impact on the intellectual discourse of his time.

It is worth noting that while the name Yoab has its roots in the Hebrew language and culture, it has been adopted and used in various forms across different regions and cultures throughout history. However, in this report, the focus remains solely on the first name Yoab and its historical significance within the context of its Hebrew origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Yoab over time

The chart below shows babies named Yoab registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2020 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 Yoab, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 5 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Yoab
01345202020222024

Decades

Yoab by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Yoab 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 #4491 14 4

Related

Names similar to Yoab

FAQ

Yoab: questions and answers

How popular is the name Yoab in the UK right now?

In 2024, Yoab was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Yoab most popular?

The peak year on record was 2022, with 5 babies registered as Yoab in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Yoab?

A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "fathered by Yahweh".

How many people are called Yoab in the UK?

A total of 14 babies have been registered as Yoab across the 4 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.