Yacov is a Hebrew name that means "follower" or "supplanter." It is derived from the Hebrew word "akav," which means "heel," and refers to the fact that Yacov was born holding onto his twin brother Esau's heel, hence his name meaning "the one who follows" or "the supplanter."
Yacov is a significant figure in Jewish history and appears prominently in the Old Testament of the Bible. He is the son of Isaac and Rebekah, and the twin brother of Esau. According to the biblical narrative, Yacov was born holding onto his brother's heel, which gave him his name. The story goes on to detail how Yacov tricks his father into giving him the blessing intended for Esau, which leads to a lifelong feud between the two brothers.
Despite this rocky beginning, Yacov goes on to have twelve sons who become the ancestors of the twelve tribes of Israel. He also has many encounters with God throughout his life, and it is said that he wrestled with an angel one night and was given a new name, Israel, as a result. This name means "one who struggles with God" or "he will struggle with God," reflecting Yacov's wrestling match with the angel.
Today, Yacov remains a popular choice for Jewish boys' names, and is also used in other cultures. It has several different spellings depending on the language, including Jacob in English, Yaakov in Hebrew, and Yakob in Swedish. Overall, Yacov is a name rich in history and meaning, with a significant place in Jewish culture and tradition.
The name Yacov has seen a varied range of popularity over the years in the United States, as indicated by the birth statistics provided.
In 1990, there were 7 newborns named Yacov. This number dipped to 5 births each in both 2002 and 2003, showing a decline in popularity during that period.
However, between 2005 and 2013, the name regained some traction with 6 births recorded each year. This indicates a stabilization or even a slight increase in the use of the name Yacov during this decade.
In total, there have been 29 babies named Yacov born in the United States since 1990. These statistics provide an interesting snapshot of the fluctuating popularity of the name over time.