Jakov first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Jakov has been for the last 15 years (from 2010 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Jakov

A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter" or "he grasps the heel".

Popularity of Jakov by gender

Based on the last 15 years of data, Jakov is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Jakov.

Year Male Count Female Count
2024 5 0
2023 6 0
2013 5 0
2010 6 0

The history of the first name Jakov

The given name Jakov is derived from the Hebrew name Jacob, which has its origins in the biblical figure of the same name. Jacob is a name that has been used for thousands of years, with references dating back to the Old Testament of the Bible.

In the Book of Genesis, Jacob was the son of Isaac and Rebekah, and the grandson of Abraham. He is regarded as one of the three patriarchs of the Jewish people, along with Abraham and Isaac. The name is believed to be derived from the Hebrew word "aqev," meaning "heel" or "supplanter," referring to the biblical story of Jacob's birth where he was born grasping his twin brother Esau's heel.

The name Jakov is the Slavic variant of Jacob, and it is commonly used in various Slavic languages, including Croatian, Serbian, Slovenian, and Russian. The earliest recorded instances of the name Jakov can be traced back to the Middle Ages in Slavic regions, particularly in areas with a strong Christian influence.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Jakov. One of the earliest was Jakov Svajnski (c. 1440-1500), a Croatian Renaissance poet and playwright who is considered one of the founders of Croatian literature. Another prominent figure was Jakov Baradić (1824-1858), a Croatian poet and writer who played a significant role in the Croatian National Revival movement.

In the realm of religion, Jakov Porfirjević Pravoslavni (c. 1800-1880) was a Serbian Orthodox priest and writer who made significant contributions to Serbian literature. Jakov Ignjatović (1822-1889), a Serbian writer and dramatist, is also notable for his works that depicted the life and struggles of the Serbian people during the 19th century.

In the 20th century, Jakov Žižić (1892-1918) was a Croatian painter and one of the pioneers of modern art in Croatia. His works were influential in the development of Croatian avant-garde painting.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Jakov throughout history, but the name has been used across various cultures and time periods, reflecting its enduring popularity and historical significance.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Jakov was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Jakov, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Jakov first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 1, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/jakov-meaning-and-history/.

"Jakov first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/jakov-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 1 November, 2025

Jakov first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/jakov-meaning-and-history/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.