Boy name
Yakup name meaning
“associated with the heel; the name Jacob”
Yakup 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, also spelled Yakub. The heel imagery in the scriptural birth narrative provides a concrete association behind the name’s established explanation.
- Gender
- ♂ Boy
- Origin
- Arabic
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity
- In TÜİK lists
What does Yakup 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 Yakup?
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
- 49provinces
Where is Yakup in the top 30?
49 provinces · the latest year each province listed it
Double names with Yakup
Double names counted as one name in TÜİK newborn lists (all years and provinces combined).
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 →
Why is Yakup popular?
Yakup has a longstanding religious and cultural association through the prophet Jacob. Its clear, two-syllable pronunciation complements the name’s classic character.
Origin of the name Yakup
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 Yakup in the Quran? | Yes, as a name · يعقوب · 12:6Yakup is the Turkish form of the prophet’s name يعقوب, which occurs in the Quran, including the narrative of Yusuf. |
| 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 Yakup
Double-name ideas built from names in our dictionary, with the meaning of each name.
-
Yakup Muhlis
Meaning of each name
- Yakup: associated with the heel; the name Jacob
- Muhlis: sincere, wholehearted, devoted
-
Umur Yakup
Meaning of each name
- Umur: affairs, matters; concerns
- Yakup: associated with the heel; the name Jacob
-
Yakup Davut
Meaning of each name
- Yakup: associated with the heel; the name Jacob
- Davut: beloved, dearly loved
-
Umeyr Yakup
Meaning of each name
- Umeyr: a diminutive form related to Umar
- Yakup: associated with the heel; the name Jacob
-
Yakup Habil
Meaning of each name
- Yakup: associated with the heel; the name Jacob
- Habil: the name of Abel, son of Adam
-
Rafet Yakup
Meaning of each name
- Rafet: compassion; tender mercy
- Yakup: associated with the heel; the name Jacob
Double names found in TÜİK’s newborn lists: Yakup Efe, Yakup Eren, Yakup Can, Muhammed Yakup, Yakup Emin.
How to pronounce Yakup
| Syllables | 2 · 5 letters · 5-letter boy names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /jakup/ |
| Ottoman Turkish | یعقوب |
| Arabic | يعقوب |
Is Yakup a boy’s name?
Yes, Yakup is used mostly as a boy’s name. See all boy names.
Yakup 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 Yakup
Famous people named Yakup
- Yakup Kılıç · b. 1986
- Yakup Kadri Karaosmanoğlu · b. 1889
- Yakup Satar · b. 1898
- Yakup Gör · b. 1988
- Yakup Şevki Subaşı · b. 1876
- Yakup Şener · b. 1990
- Yakup Arda Kılıç · b. 2005
- Yakup Taş · b. 1959
- Yakup Bugun · b. 1987
- Yakup Alkan · b. 1992
- Yakup Ramazan Zorlu · b. 1991
- Yakup Sekizkök · b. 1980
FAQ about the name Yakup
What is the meaning of Yakup?
Yakup 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 Yakup a boy’s name?
Yes, Yakup is used mostly as a boy’s name.
Is Yakup in the Quran?
Yes, as a name. Yakup is the Turkish form of the prophet’s name يعقوب, which occurs in the Quran, including the narrative of Yusuf. (e.g.: 12:6)
What is the origin of the name Yakup?
Yakup is of Arabic and Hebrew origin.
How many syllables does Yakup have?
Yakup has 2 syllables and 5 letters.
How popular is the name Yakup?
Yakup appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists. See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
What are other spellings of Yakup?
Other spellings: Yakub.
What names go well with Yakup?
Some ideas: Yakup Muhlis; Umur Yakup; Yakup Davut.
Famous people named Yakup?
Notable people named Yakup include Yakup Kılıç, Yakup Kadri Karaosmanoğlu, Yakup Satar.
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: nm00097 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake