Yacouba
A boy's name of Hebrew origin with 11 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Yacouba reads as a modern invention — a name that emerged in the 2000s and was likely coined by parents looking for something fresh rather than inherited.
The open, warm quality of its ending — a soft ending that crosses many language boundaries — gives it a distinctive rhythm that pairs well with shorter middle names or surnames.
In the most recent SSA release, Yacouba ranks #12235 among U.S. boy names — distinctive enough to stand out.
Yacouba is a boy's baby name of Arabic origin, the West African form of Jacob/Yaqub — from the Hebrew Ya'akov meaning 'supplanter' or 'one who follows at the heel,' one of the central figures of the Abrahamic faiths.
Yacouba is the Francophone West African form of Jacob, used widely in Ivory Coast, Mali, Guinea, and other countries where French and Arabic Islamic traditions have merged. It carries the full biblical weight of Jacob's transformative story — wrestling with God, becoming Israel — in its distinctly West African phonological form.
EtymologyShow more
Yacouba appeared in SSA records in 2002, placing it in the modern era of American naming — a period when parents increasingly draw from global cultures, invent new names, and blend sounds to create something entirely original. Its Hebrew roots may have been the starting point, adapted or respelled to fit contemporary American tastes.
With only 11 recorded births, Yacouba has not been widely studied in naming literature — its story belongs primarily to the families who chose it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Yacouba has 2+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 2002.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 6 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 5 | — |
The Story of Yacouba
A Gen Alpha name
Peaking in 2024, Yacouba is a fresh, modern favorite. Boys named Yacouba are most likely born between 2014 and 2024.
How rare is Yacouba?
Only about 1 in every 600,000 babies born in 2024 was named Yacouba — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 2002, peaked in the 2020s with 6 births that decade.
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(2 years, 2002–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | #12235 |
| 2002 | 5 | #12440 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yacouba a boy's or girl's name?
When was Yacouba most popular?
How popular is the name Yacouba?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 2002–2024