Yaacov is a Hebrew given name meaning "held by the heel," which references the biblical character Jacob, who was born grasping his twin brother Esau's heel during their birth. This name is prominent in Jewish culture and has been popular among various communities worldwide over centuries. It is also used in other languages like Arabic (Ya'coub) and Turkish ( Yakup), often reflecting religious or cultural influences. Yaacov is often shortened to Yaakov or Jakob, and its bearers may be referred to by the familiar diminutive forms like Jackie or Jack.
"Between 1979 and 2012, the name Yaacov experienced fluctuations in popularity, with a peak of 10 births in 2000 and a total of 122 babies named Yaacov born during this period."