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Akiva as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Akiva

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The baby name Akiva is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced ah-KEE-vah (English), /aˈkiva/ (Hebrew).

Akiva is Hebrew in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 3.0
Origin: Hebrew
Pronunciation: ah-KEE-vah (English), /aˈkiva/ (Hebrew)

What is the meaning of the name Akiva ?

The baby name Akiva is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced ah-KEE-vah (English), /aˈkiva/ (Hebrew).

Akiva is Hebrew in Origin.

Akiva (Hebrew: עקיבא) is a post-biblical Hebrew/Aramaic given name deriving from the Hebrew root 'akev (עקב), “heel; to follow,” and is closely related to Yaakov/Ya‘akov (Jacob), often interpreted as “supplanter” or “holder of the heel.” In rabbinic usage the Aramaicized form Akiva/Aqiva developed alongside Yaakov and became an independent personal name.

Usage centers on Jewish tradition, whose most renowned bearer is Rabbi Akiva (1st–2nd century CE), a towering sage of the Mishnah and martyr after the Bar Kokhba revolt; his legacy kept the name current among Ashkenazi Jews and later helped its revival in modern Israel. Variant spellings include Akiba and Aqiva; Yiddish forms are Akive and the nickname Kive (also Kivale). Related names include Yaakov/Jacob; modern short forms may be Kiva or Aki. The name carries a learned, steadfast aura rooted in classical texts yet remains concise and approachable.

Akiva has the following similar or variant Names

Akiva – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Switzerland Boys 2024 #134 4 1,769
BW Girls 0 #151 1 4,216
PS 0 #204 15 5,692
IL 0 #250 25 6,291
TW Boys 0 #256 1 7,111
JM Boys 0 #291 3 6,876
Canada Boys 2024 #300 7 2,588
DK Boys 0 #332 1 7,401
France Boys 2021 #380 8 2,865
IL Boys 0 #455 156 10,983
ZA 0 #474 1 14,421
PS Boys 0 #476 73 10,655
CR Boys 0 #510 1 10,188
HK Boys 0 #556 2 12,905
IL Girls 0 #644 2 11,648
IN Girls 0 #654 1 13,121
SG Boys 0 #739 1 17,960
QA Boys 0 #743 1 18,093
United States Boys 2024 #777 116 7,044
BR Boys 0 #785 1 12,213
United States Girls 2023 #910 5 8,600
CL Girls 0 #915 1 14,098
CO Boys 0 #981 1 15,656
MY Girls 0 #1,072 1 24,821
AE Boys 0 #1,143 1 22,615
MY Boys 0 #1,182 1 25,439
ZA Girls 0 #1,236 1 25,928
ZA Boys 0 #1,268 5 25,619

Akiva is popular in 21 countries — most recent births per country:

United States
Canada
Switzerland
New York City (White, non-Hispanic), United States
France

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People also ask about Akiva

Akiva is predominantly a boy's name.
Akiva is a 3 syllable name, pronounced ah-KEE-vah (English), /aˈkiva/ (Hebrew).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Akiba, Aqiva and Akivah.
Yes — Akiva ranked #134 in Switzerland in 2024, and appears in official birth registries across 4 countries.
Akiva ranks highest in Switzerland (#134 in 2024).
Akiva's popularity is rising significantly. It moved from #805 in 2014 to #777 in 2024 in United States.