Yaakov
Boy name · #1024 in 2025 · Uniqueness 57/100
Yaakov is currently the #1024 boy name in the United States — 218 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #993, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 8,257 boys born in 2025 was named Yaakov.
The 77-year story
Yaakov first appears in the Social Security records in 1948, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2021, when 237 boys were named Yaakov — good for #951 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Yaakov per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Yaakov against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Yaakov in class?
Yaakov scores 57 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Yaakov is most common
Geography matters for names, and Yaakov is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Yaakovs were NJ (113), NY (67), MD (10), FL (7). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Yaakov
Statistically, parents drawn to Yaakov tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Yakov, Yehuda, Dov, Yaseen, and Yisroel.
YakovYehudaDovYaseenYisroelDhruvYousefYasin
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Yaakov | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 218 | #1024 |
| 2024 | 233 | #969 |
| 2023 | 234 | #961 |
| 2022 | 205 | #1069 |
| 2021 | 237 | #951 |
| 2020 | 180 | #1101 |
| 2019 | 160 | #1193 |
| 2018 | 186 | #1070 |
| 2017 | 189 | #1056 |
| 2016 | 159 | #1194 |
| 2015 | 207 | #993 |
| 2014 | 160 | #1170 |
| 2013 | 178 | #1058 |
| 2012 | 155 | #1172 |
| 2011 | 153 | #1167 |
| 2010 | 181 | #1059 |
| 2009 | 131 | #1324 |
| 2008 | 123 | #1380 |
| 2007 | 137 | #1277 |
| 2006 | 135 | #1239 |
| 2005 | 120 | #1282 |
| 2004 | 110 | #1335 |
| 2003 | 112 | #1269 |
| 2002 | 107 | #1268 |
| 2001 | 104 | #1277 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Yaakov a popular boy name?
Yaakov ranked #1024 among boys in 2025 with 218 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #993.
When was the name Yaakov most popular?
Yaakov peaked in 2021, when 237 American boys received the name (ranked #951 that year). Since 2021 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Yaakov?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 8,257 newborn American boys was named Yaakov. It scores 57/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.