Dov vs Yakov

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Dov

Boy #1,409 Most Popular 1 Syllable

Meaning

"bear"

Origin: Hebrew

Cultural Roots

Israeli Jewish Eastern European Jewish

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#1,409
Total SSA Count
133
Syllables
1
Formality
Moderate

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Dov →

Yakov

Boy #1,227 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"one who supplants, heel-grabber"

Origin: Hebrew

Cultural Roots

Jewish Russian Eastern European Israeli

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#1,227
Total SSA Count
164
Syllables
2
Formality
Formal
Nicknames
Yasha, Yako

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Yakov →

Popularity Comparison

Dov Rank #1,409
Yakov Rank #1,227

Yakov is more popular, ranked #1227 vs #1409 for Dov.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Dov ___

  • Dov Aryeh
  • Dov Moshe
  • Dov Yonatan
  • Dov Elan
  • Dov Chaim
  • Dov Shlomo

Yakov ___

  • Yakov Moshe
  • Yakov Eliyahu
  • Yakov Dovid
  • Yakov Shmuel
  • Yakov Noam
  • Yakov Uri

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Dov

Aryeh Noa Tamar Roni Leah

If you choose Yakov

Rivka Leah Miriam Shmuel Nachum

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dov or Yakov more popular?

Yakov is more popular, ranked #1227 compared to Dov at #1409 in the United States.

What do Dov and Yakov mean?

Dov means "bear" (Hebrew origin). Yakov means "one who supplants, heel-grabber" (Hebrew origin).

Are Dov and Yakov boy or girl names?

Dov is primarily a boy name. Yakov is primarily a boy name.

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← Full profile: Dov ← Full profile: Yakov Browse all baby names