Fun Facts About the Name Yacoub
- 278 babies named Yacoub: U.S. records list 278 babies given the name Yacoub from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Yacoub Mean?
Yacoub is the Arabic form of the name found in Hebrew as Yaʿaqov (Jacob), traditionally understood as "supplanter" or "he grasps the heel." The Hebrew root ʿqb is associated with the heel and with following behind, and Genesis ties the name to Jacob grasping Esau's heel at birth and later taking Esau's blessing. English Bibles therefore render the name's explanation as "supplanter." Some scholars propose that it was originally a shortened name meaning "may God protect," but the pre-biblical etymology remains uncertain; "supplanter" is the customary interpretation rather than a certain literal translation.
Yacoub Name History & Origins
The form Yacoub is a Latin-script transliteration of Arabic Yaʿqūb, the name of the prophet Jacob. Yaʿqūb is the Arabic form of the same Semitic name found in Hebrew as Yaʿaqov; it did not pass through the Greek Iakōbos and Latin Iacobus forms that produced English Jacob. The Quran names Yaʿqūb as Jacob, the father of Joseph.
Because Arabic has no single standard Latin-script spelling, Yaʿqūb appears in English as Yaqub, Yaqoob, Yaacoub, and Yacoub, among other forms. The c and ou in Yacoub belong to a transliteration convention rather than to a different name. It is used as both a given name and a surname among Arabic-speaking Muslims and Christians, including Copts; in English it remains a transliterated Arabic name rather than an inherited English form.
How Popular is the Name Yacoub?
Yacoub has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2020. Its best rank was #4,413 in 2020.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #6,433 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2024 | #6,792 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2023 | #5,451 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 2022 | #5,850 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2021 | #7,555 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2020 | #4,413 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2019 | #5,142 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2018 | #5,306 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2017 | #4,925 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2016 | #8,121 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2015 | #7,045 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2014 | #12,045 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2013 | #9,625 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2012 | #10,720 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2011 | #14,258 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #14,173 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #14,430 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #12,304 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2006 | #7,975 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2004 | #6,123 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2003 | #10,856 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2000 | #12,074 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1999 | #8,678 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1997 | #9,234 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1996 | #10,490 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1994 | #10,204 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #9,616 | 5 | 0.0002% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Yacoub Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have a strong need for freedom - physical, mental and spiritual. You hate bondage in any form. You have love of beauty and philosophy, and you desire achievement. You are willing to take spiritual matters on faith instead of subjecting them to mental analysis. You are inventive, intuitive and extremely methodical. Since your will is so strong, you are hard to convince. You also dislike advice. You love beauty and philosophy, and you desire achievement. You have a strong need for freedom - physical, mental and spiritual.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Yacoub's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Yacoub's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.