Yakov
Boy name · #1282 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Yakov? In official American birth records, Yakov has been tracked continuously since 1953, giving it 72 years of documented American history.
Yakov is currently the #1282 boy name in the United States — 153 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1468, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 11,765 boys born in 2025 was named Yakov.
Babies named Yakov per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 72-year story
Yakov first appears in the Social Security records in 1953, when 5 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2024, with 172 babies and a rank of #1193. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Yakov against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Yakov in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Yakov is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Yakov will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Yakov is most common
State-level data for Yakov is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Yakov
Statistically, parents drawn to Yakov tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Yaakov, Yasin, Dov, Yohan, and Yasir.
YaakovYasinDovYohanYasirYazanDhruvYaseen
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Yakov | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 153 | #1281 |
| 2024 | 172 | #1193 |
| 2023 | 123 | #1465 |
| 2022 | 140 | #1341 |
| 2021 | 118 | #1503 |
| 2020 | 121 | #1423 |
| 2019 | 114 | #1494 |
| 2018 | 130 | #1360 |
| 2017 | 113 | #1488 |
| 2016 | 113 | #1501 |
| 2015 | 114 | #1468 |
| 2014 | 90 | #1691 |
| 2013 | 102 | #1546 |
| 2012 | 104 | #1535 |
| 2011 | 108 | #1495 |
| 2010 | 86 | #1752 |
| 2009 | 114 | #1459 |
| 2008 | 91 | #1679 |
| 2007 | 91 | #1669 |
| 2006 | 73 | #1856 |
| 2005 | 74 | #1772 |
| 2004 | 64 | #1911 |
| 2003 | 61 | #1906 |
| 2002 | 50 | #2125 |
| 2001 | 57 | #1912 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Yakov?
In official American birth records, the name Yakov first appeared in 1953 (over 72 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 72 years.
Is Yakov a popular boy name?
Yakov ranked #1282 among boys in 2025 with 153 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1468.
When was the name Yakov most popular?
Yakov peaked in 2024, when 172 American boys received the name (ranked #1193 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Yakov?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 11,765 newborn American boys was named Yakov. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.