No, traditional accounts indicate Rabbi Akiva did not have children before leaving for yeshiva; he began Torah study shortly after marrying Rachel and left soon after, with children born later.1234

Rabbinic sources describe Akiva as illiterate until age 40, when he married Rachel (daughter of Kalba Savua) on the condition he study Torah; she sent him away immediately or shortly after, and he studied for 12 or 24 years before returning with thousands of students.134 Texts like Avot D'rebbe Natan state his children (sons and daughters) were supported by Rachel during his absence, implying they were born after he left, as she endured poverty alone with them.3 The Talmud mentions a daughter engaged to Ben Azzai and possibly sons like Rabbi Shimon and Yehoshua, but timelines place their births post-departure, with Akiva away when they were raised.236

Some modern interpretations speculate he had children from a prior marriage or before leaving to resolve timeline issues (e.g., Rachel's age), but primary sources do not support this and emphasize his study starting right after marriage without prior family.2 Conflicting views exist on exact student numbers or study duration (12 vs. 24 years), but the consensus holds no pre-yeshiva children.125