Boy name
Yakub name meaning
“associated with the heel; the name Jacob”
Yakub is the name Jacob, traditionally associated with the heel. It reaches Turkish through Arabic Yaʿqūb from Hebrew Yaʿaqōv and is used as a masculine name in Türkiye. The scriptural birth narrative involving a grasped heel supplies a concrete association; Yakup is another established Turkish spelling of the name.
- Gender
- ♂ Boy
- Origin
- Arabic
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity
- In TÜİK lists
What does Yakub mean?
Associated with the heel; the name Jacob
In Turkish: topukla ilişkilendirilen; Yakup peygamberin adı
Yakup names the Quranic prophet Jacob, the father of Joseph. Their separation and reunion have supplied literature with images of longing and waiting. Yakub is a spelling variant of the same name, while English Jacob and James belong to the broader historical family of forms derived from it.
How popular is Yakub?
Official figures: TÜİK newborn name lists (2018–2025, the top 30 for Türkiye and each of the 81 provinces every year) and the most common names in the population.
- Province lists
- 1provinces
Where is Yakub in the top 30?
1 provinces · the latest year each province listed it
Source: TurkStat (TÜİK), Address-Based Population Registration System. The lists cover the top 30 names per year, sex and province; no official counts are published for less common names. All statistics →
Origin of the name Yakub
From Arabic Yaʿqūb, corresponding to Hebrew Yaʿaqōv. The biblical narrative connects it with the word for heel, though its earlier linguistic interpretation is uncertain.
| Linguistic origin | Arabic, Hebrew |
|---|---|
| Naming tradition | Islamic |
| In Islamic history | Names found in the Quran, Names of prophets |
| Is Yakub in the Quran? | Yes, as a name · يعقوب · 2:132, 12:6Yakub is the Turkish spelling of the prophet’s name يعقوب in the Quran; Yakup is another Turkish form. |
| Starts with | Y · Ya |
Names are shared across communities. Where a name is common says nothing certain about any one person’s background, faith or origin.
Double names with Yakub
Double-name ideas built from names in our dictionary, with the meaning of each name.
-
Yakub Dervis
Meaning of each name
- Yakub: associated with the heel; the name Jacob
- Dervis: dervish; a follower of the Sufi path
-
Veysi Yakub
Meaning of each name
- Veysi: connected with Veys or Uways
- Yakub: associated with the heel; the name Jacob
-
Yakub Osman
Meaning of each name
- Yakub: associated with the heel; the name Jacob
- Osman: traditionally, a young bustard
-
Davut Yakub
Meaning of each name
- Davut: beloved, dearly loved
- Yakub: associated with the heel; the name Jacob
-
Yakub Rasih
Meaning of each name
- Yakub: associated with the heel; the name Jacob
- Rasih: firmly rooted; deeply grounded in knowledge
-
Galip Yakub
Meaning of each name
- Galip: victorious; prevailing or winning
- Yakub: associated with the heel; the name Jacob
How to pronounce Yakub
| Syllables | 2 · 5 letters · 5-letter boy names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /jakub/ |
| Ottoman Turkish | یعقوب |
| Arabic | يعقوب |
Is Yakub a boy’s name?
Yes, Yakub is used mostly as a boy’s name. See all boy names.
Yakub appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists. See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
Spellings and similar names
The same name in other spellings (e.g. Ahmet and Ahmed):
Names that sound like Yakub
FAQ about the name Yakub
What is the meaning of Yakub?
Yakub means “associated with the heel; the name Jacob”. From Arabic Yaʿqūb, corresponding to Hebrew Yaʿaqōv. The biblical narrative connects it with the word for heel, though its earlier linguistic interpretation is uncertain.
Is Yakub a boy’s name?
Yes, Yakub is used mostly as a boy’s name.
Is Yakub in the Quran?
Yes, as a name. Yakub is the Turkish spelling of the prophet’s name يعقوب in the Quran; Yakup is another Turkish form. (e.g.: 2:132, 12:6)
What is the origin of the name Yakub?
Yakub is of Arabic and Hebrew origin.
How many syllables does Yakub have?
Yakub has 2 syllables and 5 letters.
How popular is the name Yakub?
Yakub appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists. See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
What are other spellings of Yakub?
Other spellings: Yakup.
What names go well with Yakub?
Some ideas: Yakub Dervis; Veysi Yakub; Yakub Osman.
Sources and method
Meanings and origins draw on language sources and name dictionaries; popularity figures come from TÜİK’s address-based population register, and notable people from Wikidata.
Entry ID: nm02136 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake