We often don’t realize how many boy names that start with Y are out there! Many originated in the ancient world, while others are more modern inventions. What kind of Y name are you looking to give the baby boy you’re expecting?
Look no further because our name list has 100 different Y names for boys from around the world. Not only will you unearth each name’s meaning, but you can also figure out how they evolved over time.
100 Popular Male Names That Start with Y
Explore cool boy names that start with Y for the baby boy you look forward to welcoming.
Yaaja
Yaaja is the most unusual of variations of Yaya or Yaja, a Sanskrit name meaning “victorious.” It’s a title for Lord Shiva in Hinduism and means “he who is the king of all” – perfect for your baby boy.
- Origin: Sanskrit
- Meaning: Sacrificer
- Pronunciation: YAA-Jhaa
- Variations: Yaya, Yaja
- Popularity: Yaaja is extremely rare worldwide, with just six known occurrences in 2014, in the U.S.
Yachin
Like many boy names that start with Y, Yachin is a particular variation of a classic. It’s a form of the Hebrew Joachim, meaning “established by Yahweh.” Operation Yachin was the name of a plan to bring Moroccan Jews to Israel in the 1960s secretly.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: He will establish
- Pronunciation: Yaa-KIYN
- Popularity: Yachin is very rare worldwide and mostly used in India.
Yacub
Yacub is the Arabic form of Jacob and James, sometimes appearing as Ya’qūb or Ya’kūb. It’s used in Arab, Turkish, and Muslim communities when referring to a “successor” and “heir.”
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: He who supplants
- Pronunciation: YAA-kuub
- Variations: Yakub, Yaqub, Yacoub
- Namesakes: Yacub Addy, a Ghanaian drummer who won the 2010 National Heritage Fellowship, awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts.
- Popularity: Yacub is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Indonesia.
Yadavindra
Yadavindra is among many male names that start with Y, which acts as a name for Lord Krishna. It also means “king of the Yadava clan,” an ancient Indian people descended from Yadu, a famous king.
- Origin: Indian, Hindi
- Meaning: King of the Yadava clan
- Pronunciation: Yae-dah-VIHN-Drah
- Variations: Yadavendra, Yadvendra
- Namesakes: Yadavindra Singh, the 9th Maharaja of Patiala from 1938 to 1971.
- Popularity: Yadavindra is very rare worldwide and mainly used in India.
Yadi
Yadi is pretty obscure as a male Hebrew name but is more popular for girls named Yadira. Yadi is also the name of two locales in Iran.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Friend
- Pronunciation: YAA-dee
- Namesakes: Yadi Timo, an Indonesian actor appearing in the soap opera Wulan. Yadi Sugandi, an Indonesian director known for Merah Putih (2009).
- Popularity: Yadi is rare worldwide and primarily used in Indonesia, where it ranked 286th in 2014.
Yadid
Like Yadi, Yadid also means “friend” and is considered a biblical name for boys. It also combines meanings with “beloved friend” in Arabic to cover all bases for your little guy.
- Origin: Hebrew, Arabic
- Meaning: Beloved
- Pronunciation: Yaa-DIYD
- Variations: Yadeed, Yadide, Yadyd
- Namesakes: Yadid Rubin, an Israeli painter with exhibitions at The Israel Museum in Jerusalem.
- Popularity: Yadid is very rare worldwide and mostly used in Columbia.
Yadon
Yadon means “God has heard” when taken from the Hebrew “yâdôn” or “jadon,” meaning “grateful” and “thankful.” The similarly spelled Jadon appears in the biblical Book of Nehemiah, where he builds a wall for Jerusalem.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: He will judge
- Pronunciation: Yaa-DAAN
- Variations: Yahdon
- Popularity: Yadon is extremely rare worldwide, with 61 known occurrences in 2014, mainly in India.
Yadunath
Yadunath is one of many Hindu Y names for boys used for Lord Krishna. It also means “protector of yadus” in honor of Yadu, the founder of the Hindu Yadu dynasty. Another namesake includes Sardar Yadu Nath Khanal, a Nepali diplomat who helped shape Nepal’s foreign policy.
- Origin: Indian, Hindi
- Meaning: Protector of Yadus
- Pronunciation: YAE-duw-Nahth
- Namesakes: Yadunath Thatte, a Marathi leader of the Indian independence movement in Maharashtra. Yadunath Pandey, a member of the Parliament of India from 1989 to 1991.
- Popularity: Yadunath is rare worldwide and primarily used in India.
Yaduraj
Yaduraj means “Lord Krishna” and “lord of the Yadu clan.” It’s a more royal and formal version of Yadav, meaning “descendent of Yadu” in Sanskrit.
- Origin: Indian, Sanskrit
- Meaning: King of Yadus
- Pronunciation: Yaa-DUW-Raajh
- Popularity: Yaduraj is very rare worldwide and primarily used in India.
Yael
Yael was a figure appearing in the Bible who rescued the Israelites by killing the head of the Canaanite army. It means “ibex” or “mountain goat,” yet it also means “he goes up.” Yael is mostly a girl’s name but is considered unisex.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Mountain goat
- Pronunciation: YAEHL
- Variations: Jael
- Popularity: Yael is rare worldwide and mainly used in Israel, ranking 22nd in 2014.
Yağmur
Yağmur is a unisex Turkish given name and surname that’s the literal word for “rain.” It’s predominantly a girl’s name, but is an earthy way to name your young rainmaker. In Turkey, Yağmur ranked in the top 10 from 2005 to 2013.
- Origin: Turkish
- Meaning: Rain
- Pronunciation: JHAAG-Muhr
- Namesakes: Yağmur Sarıgül, a Turkish songwriter and guitarist of the rock band maNga.
- Popularity: Yağmur is rare worldwide and primarily used in Turkey, where it ranked 579th in 2014.
Yago
Yago has multiple origins, from Spanish and Welsh to Hebrew. It’s best known as the Spanish form of James or Jacob, based on the Hebrew Ya’aqov, meaning “may God protect.” For Spanish-speaking boys, Yago is also short for Santiago.
- Origin: Spanish, Hebrew
- Meaning: He who supplants
- Pronunciation: YAA-Gow
- Variations: Yaco
- Namesakes: Yago da Silva, a Brazilian footballer for Náutico. Yago Lamela, a Spanish long jumper and silver medalist at the 1999 World Indoor Championships.
- Popularity: Yago is rare worldwide, primarily used in Brazil, and ranked 531st in Spain in 2014.
Yahir
Yahir is another version of the Hebrew Yair, meaning “he will enlighten.” It also means “handsome” in Spanish and ranked in the top 300 U.S. boys’ names in 2004.
- Origin: Arabic, Hebrew
- Meaning: He will enlighten
- Pronunciation: Yaa-HIHR
- Variations: Yair
- Namesakes: Yahir Parra, a Mexican singer who competed in the reality show La Academia in 2002.
- Popularity: Yahir is very rare worldwide, mainly used in Mexico, and ranked 1,381st in Panama in 2014.
Yahmir
Yahmir is one of the most unknown boy names with Y, though it sounds like many others on the list. Yahmir means “moon” in Sanskrit, but it has no details other than shining brightly onto your baby boy.
- Origin: Sanskrit
- Meaning: The moon
- Pronunciation: Yaa-MIHR
- Variations: Yaamir
- Popularity: Yahmir is extremely rare worldwide, with only eight known occurrences in 2014, primarily in the U.S.
Yaholo
Yaholo is a North American Indian name meaning “one who yells.” There is no specific tribe or clan associated with Yaholo, and it simply sounds like what it is – “to holler!”
- Origin: Native American
- Meaning: One who yells
- Pronunciation: YAH-hhow-Low
- Variations: Yahollo, Yaholloh, Yaholoh
- Popularity: Yahoo is extremely rare worldwide, with only one known occurrence in 2014 in the Ivory Coast.
Yajnarup
Yajnarup means “one who is as pure as Yajna” in Sanskrit. It refers to the Hindu practice of doing rituals before a sacred fire while using mantras. It’s no surprise that Yajnarup is another cool title for Lord Krishna.
- Origin: Indian, Sanskrit
- Meaning: One whose form is Yajna
- Pronunciation: YAAJH-naa-Ruwp
- Popularity: Yajnarup is extremely rare worldwide, with just four known occurrences in 2014, mainly in India.
Yajush
Like other Sanskrit-based guy names that start with Y, Yajush means “one who does good to others.” When spelled Yajus, it becomes the name of a Brāhman from the Deccan, a region in south-central India.
- Origin: Indian, Sanskrit
- Meaning: One who does good to others
- Pronunciation: Yaa-JHOOSH
- Variations: Yajus
- Popularity: Yajush is extremely rare worldwide, with 35 known occurrences in 2014, primarily in India.
Yakov
Yakov is a classic Russian variation of Jacob from the Latin Iacobus and Hebrew Yaakov. Like Jacob, it means “heel grabber” to allude to Jacob holding Esau’s heel in the Bible.
- Origin: Russian, Hebrew
- Meaning: He who supplants
- Pronunciation: YAA-Kaaf
- Variations: Jakov, Iakov
- Namesakes: Yakov Smirnoff, a Ukrainian-American comedian appearing in Moscow on the Hudson (1984). Yakov Vilner, a Ukrainian chess master who won the Odessa chess championship in 1928.
- Popularity: Yakov is rare worldwide, primarily used in Russia, and ranked 102nd in Ukraine in 2014.
Yale
Yale is less famous as a name than it is as Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. It originated as an English and Welsh last name meaning “upland” and “fertile moor.” It derives from the Welsh “iâl,” meaning “fertile ground,” and was the name of the estate owned by the Lords of Yale.
- Origin: English, Welsh
- Meaning: Fertile ground
- Pronunciation: YEYL
- Variations: Yail, Yaile, Yayl
- Popularity: Yale is rare worldwide and mainly used in the U.S.
Yamar
Yamar is a very rare Quranic name using the Arabic root “Ain-M-R.” It also means “high-spirited” and “long-lived,” but, despite how it sounds, it isn’t related to Lamar.
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: Life, alive
- Pronunciation: Yaa-MAAR
- Namesakes: Yamar Samb, a Senegalese basketball player who competed at the 1980 Summer Olympics.
- Popularity: Yamar is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Senegal, ranking 947th in 2014.
Yamato
Yamato is best known as an ethnic name for Japan. It also refers to the Japanese Yamato dynasty, dating back to the 8th century. Its other meanings include “great,” “harmony,” “soar,” and “guide.”
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Great harmony
- Pronunciation: Yaa-MAA-tow
- Namesakes: Yamato Fushimi, a Japanese volleyball player for the Japanese men’s national volleyball team. Yamato Ganeko, a Japanese singer and member of the band Orange Range.
- Popularity: Yamato is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Japan.
Yamin
Yamin is typically used by the Muslim population in the Indian subcontinent and North African Jews. It’s derived from a given name meaning “right-hand side” and is still used by Muslims and Jews today.
- Origin: Arabic, Hebrew
- Meaning: Son of the right hand
- Pronunciation: Yaa-MIYN
- Variations: Yameen
- Popularity: Yamin is rare worldwide, mainly used in India, and ranked 205th in Myanmar in 2014.
Yancey
Yancey has Native American origins, which first referred to an Englishman. It came to mean “yankee” and is similar to an unrelated Welsh surname based on Nanney.
- Origin: Native American
- Meaning: Yankee
- Pronunciation: YAEN-Siy
- Variations: Yancy
- Namesakes: Yancey Thigpen, an American football player for the San Diego Chargers (1991). Yancey McGill, an American member of the South Carolina Senate from 1989 to 2014.
- Popularity: Yancey is very rare worldwide and primarily used in the U.S.
Yannis
Yannis is a particularly Greek form of John, meaning “God is gracious.” It’s used alongside Iannis and Yiannis to make John more interesting for your baby boy. Yannis is common in France, ranked in the top 50 names, and is still used for boys and girls.
- Origin: Greek, Hebrew
- Meaning: Gift of God
- Pronunciation: YAA-Nihs
- Variations: Yiannis, Yanis
- Namesakes: Yannis Yfantis, a Greek poet awarded the Cavafy Award. Yannis Tafer, a French footballer for Racing-Union.
- Popularity: Yannis is rare worldwide and mostly used in Greece, where it ranked 318th in 2014.
Yankel
Yankel is used in Hebrew and Yiddish to mean “Yahweh may protect.” It’s also a Yiddish diminutive for Jacob, meaning “supplanter” and “heel-grabber,” which could even be a great middle name.
- Origin: Hebrew, Yiddish
- Meaning: Supplanter
- Pronunciation: YAEN-Kahl
- Namesakes: Yankel Talmud, a Hasidic composer of Jewish liturgical music known as the Beethoven of the Gerrer Rebbes. Yankel Stevan, a Mexican actor appearing in the series Control Z (2020 to 2022).
- Popularity: Yankel is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Israel.
Yannick
Yannick consists of the Hebrew “yeho,” a short name meaning “Yahweh,” and “ḥanán,” meaning “to show favor.” Yannick sometimes appears as an alternative to the French Yann in countries from France and Switzerland to Gabon.
- Origin: French, Hebrew
- Meaning: God is gracious
- Pronunciation: YAE-Nihk
- Variations: Yanik, Yanick, Yanic
- Namesakes: Yannick Dalmas, a French racing driver and winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1999. Yannick Nézet-Séguin, a Canadian principal conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra from 2008 to 2018.
- Popularity: Yannick is rare worldwide, primarily used in France, and ranked 16th in Gabon in 2014.
Yanuel
Yanuel is incredibly mysterious among names for boys that start with Y. It lists no meanings or origins, but, like Yago, may be a Spanish version of a Hebrew name.
- Origin: Unknown
- Meaning: Unknown
- Pronunciation: Yaan-WEHL
- Popularity: Yanuel is extremely rare worldwide, with 70 known occurrences in 2014, mostly in the Dominican Republic.
Yansh
In Hinduism, Yansh means “the name of a god” without getting specific. It also means “the first ray of sunlight” and “one who can be compared to the first ray of sun in the morning.” Yansh is a cool, easy way to name your baby boy after the sunlight that follows him everywhere.
- Origin: Indian, Hindi
- Meaning: Who is like God
- Pronunciation: YAHNSH
- Popularity: Yansh is extremely rare worldwide, with 78 known occurrences in 2014, mainly in India.
Yao
Yao’s Ghanaian origins are in the Akan language used by the Ewe people of Ghana and Togo. It originally referred to a “boy born on a Thursday,” but can be used for any Thursday baby. Yao is also a Chinese surname meaning “far” in Mandarin.
- Origin: Ghanaian, Chinese
- Meaning: Born on a Tuesday
- Pronunciation: YAAOW
- Variations: Yaoh
- Namesakes: Yao Ming, a Chinese basketball player for the Shanghai Sharks. Yao Lin Chen, a Chinese actor known for The Man with the Golden Gun (1974).
- Popularity: Yao ranked 1,845th worldwide and is primarily used in Ghana, ranking 3rd in 2014.
Yaotl
Yaotl is an Aztec name from the Nahuatl language, meaning warrior. It also means “war” and “rival” when referring to the Aztec god Tezcatlipoca. This god was known to appear at a crossroads to challenge warriors.
- Origin: Aztec
- Meaning: Warrior
- Pronunciation: YAOH-Til
- Variations: Yaotel, Yaotle, Yaotyl, Yaotyle
- Popularity: Yaotl is extremely rare worldwide, with 24 known occurrences in 2014, mainly in Mexico.
Yaqeen
Yaqeen means “certainty” and “lack of doubt” in Arabic and Persian. In Islam, it also refers to “trust,” “belief,” and “faith” and is considered the summit of the Muslim spiritual journey.
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: Belief
- Pronunciation: Yaa-KWIYN
- Variations: Yaqueen
- Popularity: Yaqeen is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Pakistan.
Yara
Yara is a unisex name that’s much more common for girls since it means “small butterfly” or “water lady.” The second meaning links to a mythical mermaid in indigenous Brazilian mythology who tries to capture sailors with her song.
- Origin: Arabic, Brazilian
- Meaning: Friend
- Pronunciation: YAA-Raa
- Variations: Yarah, Yarra, Yarrah
- Popularity: Yara is rare worldwide and primarily used in Egypt, where it ranked 139th in 2014.
Yardley
Yardley is traditionally an English surname for a “dweller at the meadow pasture.” It’s composed of the Old English “gerd,” meaning “stick” (or 30 acres), and “leah,” meaning “wood.” Yardley is an English place name in places that include Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, and Essex.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Wood clearing
- Pronunciation: YEARD-Liy
- Variations: Yardlie, Yardly
- Popularity: Yardley is very rare worldwide and mainly used in the U.S.
Yaretzi
Yaretzi is a word that means “you will always be loved” in the Aztec-Nahuatl language. Though briefly ranking on the U.S. naming charts, Yaretzi is known for Mexican and Latino baby boys who are loved.
- Origin: Aztec
- Meaning: You will always be loved
- Pronunciation: Yaa-REHTS-iy
- Popularity: Yaretzi is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Mexico.
Yarognev
Yarognev is pretty rare among boy names that start with Y, with Norman-French origins. It means “he who is fierce, energetic, and full of anger” and is also a medieval Slavic variation of Jarogniew.
- Origin: Norman, Slavic
- Meaning: He who is fierce
- Pronunciation: Yaa-ROG-nehv
- Popularity: Yarognev is extremely rare worldwide, with just two known occurrences in 2014, primarily in Kyrgyzstan.
Yarrow
Yarrow is an uncommon English surname for various towns located on a river. It’s associated with the Welsh “garw,” meaning “rough” and “tempestuous.” The Yarrow herb is known for its medicinal properties and accompanied Achilles into battle.
- Origin: English, Welsh
- Meaning: Rough stream
- Pronunciation: YEH-Row
- Variations: Yarowe, Yarro, Yarroe
- Namesakes: Yarrow Maaytey, a 17th-century Somali ruler and the first Sultan of the Galluweger Dynasty.
- Popularity: Yarrow is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Kenya.
Yarzar
Yarzar means “a mighty ruler” in Burmese origin, in addition to “valiant” and “fearless.” It’s not used much outside of Myanmar, but it’s a unique way to declare your little boy a “king.”
- Origin: Burmese
- Meaning: King
- Pronunciation: YAAR-zaar
- Popularity: Yarzar is rare worldwide and mainly used in Myanmar, ranking 323rd in 2014.
Yasen
Yasen is a particularly Bulgarian name meaning “ash tree,” along with “clear” and “serene” in Bulgarian. It’s occasionally thought to mean “chief” in Arabic but is less common.
- Origin: Bulgarian, Arabic
- Meaning: Ash tree
- Pronunciation: YAA-sehn
- Namesakes: Yasen Atour, a Moroccan-English actor known for The Witcher series. Yasen Peyankov, a Bulgarian actor appearing in Transformers (2011).
- Popularity: Yasen is rare worldwide, primarily used in Egypt, and ranked 416th in Bulgaria in 2014.
Yash
Yash means “splendor” and “majesty,” plus “luxury” and “fame” from the Sanskrit “yashas.” It’s often short for Yashodhan and is also a Polish nickname for Dupiyash. Yash is originally a Polish surname from Kozdrój, meaning “person with unkempt hair.”
- Origin: Indian, Sanskrit
- Meaning: Success
- Pronunciation: YAESH
- Variations: Yashe
- Namesakes: Yash Pandit, an Indian actor appearing in Faltu (2006). Yash Patnaik, an Indian producer known for the series Ishq Mein Marjawan (2017 to 2019).
- Popularity: Yash is rare worldwide, mostly used in India, and ranked 972nd in Poland in 2014.
Yashank
Like many male names that start with Y based in Hinduism, Yashank has spiritual connections. It means “happiness,” but it’s also another title for Lord Shiva.
- Origin: Indian, Hindi
- Meaning: Happiness
- Pronunciation: YAA-Shahnk
- Popularity: Yashank is very rare worldwide and mainly used in India.
Yashodhar
Yashodhar is a name for “one who has gained fame” when taken from the Sanskrit “yaśodhara.” It’s made up of “yaśaa,” meaning “glory,” and “dhara,” meaning “bearing.” In Hinduism, Yaśodharā is the wife of Prince Siddhartha and the mother of Rāhula.
- Origin: Indian, Sanskrit
- Meaning: Renowned
- Pronunciation: Yaa-SHAAD-Hhaar
- Namesakes: Yashodhar Manikya, the Maharaja of Tripura from 1600 to 1618. Yashodhar Mathpal, an Indian archaeologist awarded the Padma Shri by the government of India in 2006.
- Popularity: Yashodhar is very rare worldwide and primarily used in India.
Yasser
Yasser comes from the Arabic “yasira,” meaning “to become easy” and “to be rich.” It’s also for someone “who makes things easier” and “who goes against the tide” simultaneously. Yasser is associated with the Hebrew “yesharim,” meaning “just.”
- Origin: Arabic
- Meaning: Well-to-do
- Pronunciation: YAE-Ser
- Variations: Yaser, Yasir, Yassir
- Namesakes: Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization from 1969 to 2004. Yasser Khalil, an Egyptian journalist and founder of the Kbret Network.
- Popularity: Yasser ranked 1,205th worldwide and is mostly used in Egypt, where it ranked 44th in 2014.
Yasti
In Hinduism, “yasti” symbolizes “the axis of the universe.” It’s part of the Sanskrit “yashtimadhu,” composed of “yashti,” meaning “stem” and “madhu,” meaning sweet. This is another way to say licorice, a very “sweet stalk” indeed.
- Origin: Indian, Hindi
- Meaning: Slender
- Pronunciation: YAAS-tiy
- Variations: Yashti
- Popularity: Yasti is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Indonesia in 2014.
Yasuji
Yasuji may seem like a funny way to describe your “quiet one,” but it has other meanings too. In Japanese, Yasuji also means “health” and “peaceful.”
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Quiet one
- Pronunciation: Yaa-SUW-Jhiy
- Variations: Yasuzi
- Namesakes: Yasuji Kikuzuma, a Japanese weightlifter who competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics. Yasuji Sasaki, a Japanese chef and winner of the 2008 Bocuse d’Or Asia.
- Popularity: Yasuji is rare worldwide and primarily used in Japan, ranking 520th in 2014.
Yates
Yates is best known as a five-letter “Y” surname from the Old English “geat,” meaning “gate.” It was first a name for someone residing near the castle gates or a gatekeeper himself.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Gates
- Pronunciation: YEYTES
- Variations: Yaits, Yaytes, Yayts
- Popularity: Yates is very rare worldwide and mostly used in the U.S.
Yatrik
Yatrik means “journey” and “traveler” to the right little boy. It’s also the name of a 1952 Indian film about a group traveling through the Himalayas.
- Origin: Indian, Hindi
- Meaning: Journey
- Pronunciation: YAH-trihk
- Variations: Yahtrik
- Popularity: Yatrik is very rare worldwide and mainly used in the U.S.
Yavanan
Yavanan has mysterious origins and may be linked to Yavana, meaning “Greek” or “foreigner” in India. It’s sometimes associated with the Persian Yavar, meaning “companion” and “helper.”
- Origin: Indian, Hindi
- Meaning: Ascetic
- Pronunciation: YAH-vaa-Naan
- Popularity: Yavanan is extremely rare worldwide, with just five known occurrences in 2014, primarily in India.
Yaw
Yaw is a name given to Akan baby boys “born on a Thursday.” The Akan people populate what is today Ghana and some of the Ivory Coast and Togo in West Africa.
- Origin: African
- Meaning: Born on a Thursday
- Pronunciation: YAOW
- Variations: Yao
- Namesakes: Yaw Frimpong, a Ghanaian footballer for ASEC Mimosas. Yaw Fosu-Amoah, a South African long jumper who competed at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
- Popularity: Yaw is rare worldwide and mainly used in Ghana, ranking 47th in 2014.
Yaxkin
Yaxkin is an ancient Mayan name appearing on their zodiac calendar as Yaxk’in. It means “new sun” or “sun god” and is composed of the Mayan “yax,” meaning “green,” and “k’in,” meaning “sun.” Yaxkin has no popularity statistics, so be the first to choose it for your cute ray of sunshine.
- Origin: Mayan
- Meaning: New sun
- Pronunciation: YAAKS-kihn
- Variations: Yaxk’in
Yazeed
Yazeed is used for Arabic and Swahili boys, along with Yazid. It means “becoming greater” and is inspired by Yazid II, a powerful 8th-century Islamic leader.
- Origin: Swahili, Arabic
- Meaning: Becoming greater
- Pronunciation: Yey-ZIYD
- Variations: Yazid
- Popularity: Yazeed is rare worldwide and mostly used in Jordan, where it ranked 396th in 2014.
Yehuda
Yehuda is the antiquated version of the biblical Judah. In the Bible, Yehuda is one of Jacob’s sons and part of the 12 tribes of Israel.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Praise
- Pronunciation: Yeh-HHUW-dah
- Variations: Yehudah
- Namesakes: Yehuda Amichai, an Israeli poet awarded the 1982 Israel Prize. Yehuda Berg, an American writer and co-director of the Kabbalah Centre in Los Angeles.
- Popularity: Yehuda is rare worldwide and mainly used in the U.S.
Yefim
Yefim means “well spoken” and “fair speech,” derived from the Greek Euphemios. The original version is made up of the Greek “eu,” meaning “good,” and “phemi,” meaning “speech.”
- Origin: Russian
- Meaning: Sweetly spoken
- Pronunciation: Yeh-FIYM
- Variations: Yeffim, Yephim
- Namesakes: Efim Geller, a Soviet chess player, who won the 1955 and 1979 Soviet Championship. Efim Alexandrov, a Russian artist, made a Meritorious Artist in 2007.
- Popularity: Yefim is very rare worldwide and primarily used in the U.S.
Yehezkel
Yehezkel is the Hebrew variation of the biblical Ezekiel. It comes from “Yehezque’l,” meaning “may God strengthen him” and “strong,” for this extra-formal version of Zeke.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: God strengthens
- Pronunciation: Yeh-HHEHZ-kehl
- Variations: Yechezkel
- Namesakes: Yehezkel Chazom, an Israeli footballer for Hapoel Tel Aviv. Yehezkel Hen, an Israeli member of the Knesset from 1951 to 1952.
- Popularity: Yehezkel is rare worldwide and primarily used in Israel, ranking 212th in 2014.
Yehoshua
Yehoshua is the original form of Joshua, known as the Israelite leader who led the Jews to the promised land. It’s composed of “yeho,” meaning “God,” and “shua,” meaning “to deliver,” and is often simplified as Yeshua.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: God’s deliverance
- Pronunciation: Yeh-HHow-shuw-Ah
- Variations: Yeshua
- Namesakes: Yehoshua November, an American poet known for God’s Optimism.
- Popularity: Yehoshua is rare worldwide and mainly used in Israel, where it ranked 152nd in 2014.
Yeiden
When it comes to Y names for boys, Yeiden is the most unknown. Though Hebrew, its meaning is unclear, although it sometimes appears as a very rare Jewish surname.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Unknown
- Pronunciation: YAEY-dehn
- Popularity: Yeiden is extremely rare worldwide, with just four known occurrences in 2014, in Argentina, Brazil, Honduras, and Mexico.
Yelson
Yelson’s true meaning is a secret, except that it resembles the Russian surname Yeltsin. Yeltsin is based on “yel,” the Russian word for “fir tree,” but as for Yelson, it’s anyone’s guess.
- Origin: Unknown
- Meaning: Unknown
- Pronunciation: YEHL-son
- Popularity: Yelson is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Honduras, ranking 1,466th in 2014.
Yemin
Yemin also means “darkness” in Arabic” and “oath” in Turkish. In Hebrew, it means “son of my old age” as a form of Benjamin. Yemin is also a Turkish drama series from 2019, while Yemin Moshe is a neighborhood of Jerusalem.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Son of the right hand
- Pronunciation: YEH-Mihn
- Variations: YEH-Mihn
- Popularity: Yemin is rare worldwide and mostly used in Myanmar, where it ranked 286th in 2014.
Yered
Yered is an unexpected Hebrew alternative to Jared, derived from “yéred,” meaning “he who descended.” In the Bible’s Book of Genesis, Jared lived somewhere in between Adam and Noah.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Descent
- Pronunciation: YEH-Rehd
- Popularity: Yered is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Mexico.
Yeremiah
Yeremiah also means “Yahweh loosens” and “Yahweh will raise” as the Hebrew version of Jeremiah. It originated as Yirmiyahu, meaning “Yahweh will exalt,” and belonged to one of the prophets of the Old Testament.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: God is high
- Pronunciation: Yeh-reh-MAEY-Ah
- Variations: Jeremiah
- Namesakes: Yeremiah Bell, an American football player for the Miami Dolphins.
- Popularity: Yeremiah is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Uganda.
Yeremy
Yeremy is a primarily Spanish spelling for Jeremy, meaning “lifted up” or “exalted by God.” The original Jeremiah appeared as Yirmeyâh, for the biblical Book of Jeremiah, but Yeremy is an easier alternative for sure.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Appointed by God
- Pronunciation: YEH-rah-Miy
- Variations: Yeremey
- Namesakes: Yeremy Pino, a Spanish footballer for the Spanish national team. Jeremy Peña, a Dominican-American baseball player for the Houston Astros.
- Popularity: Yeremy is rare worldwide and mostly used in Costa Rica, ranking 1,620th in 2014.
Yestin
Yestin is a somewhat strange Welsh version of Justin, meaning “just.” Like Justin, it derives from the Latin “iustĭtĭa,” meaning “rightful” and “fair.” It also appears as Lestyn, named after a 6th- to 7th-century Welsh saint.
- Origin: Welsh, Latin
- Meaning: Just
- Pronunciation: YEHS-Tihn
- Variations: Iestyn, Justin
- Popularity: Yestin is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Indonesia.
Yevgeny
Yevgeny is an alternative to Evgeny, the Russian interpretation of Eugene. It’s based on the Greek Eugénios, meaning “noble” and “high-born.”
- Origin: Russian, Greek
- Meaning: Noble
- Pronunciation: Yehv-GEH-niy
- Variations: Yevgeni, Yevgenii, Yevgeniy
- Namesakes: Yevgeny Leonov, a Soviet-Russian actor known for Gentlemen of Fortune. Yevgeny Svetlanov, the Russian principal conductor of the USSR State Symphony Orchestra (1965 to 2000).
- Popularity: Yevgeny is very rare worldwide and primarily used in the U.S.
Yisrael
Yisrael may look like a typo, but it’s another variant of Israel, the name given to Jacob after wrestling God’s angel. It derives from the Hebrew Yisra’el, meaning “God contended,” just as Jacob did.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: God contended
- Pronunciation: YIYZ-raey-Ehl
- Variations: Israel
- Namesakes: Yisrael Aharoni, an Israeli celebrity chef who hosts the series Aharoni Cooks for Friends. Yisrael Galili, the Israeli Minister of Information from 1967 to 1969.
- Popularity: Yisrael is rare worldwide and mostly used in Israel, where it ranked 24th in 2014.
Yitzhak
Yitzhak means “he will laugh” in Hebrew when based on “yitshāq,” meaning “laughter.” It’s a form of Issac, inspired by the biblical figure of the same name. In the Bible, Issac is the son of Abraham and Sarah, known for being a patriarch of Israel.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Laughter
- Pronunciation: YIHTZ-aek
- Variations: Yitzchak
- Namesakes: Yitzhak Hatuel, an Israeli fencer who competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics. Yitzhak Navon, the fifth president of Israel between 1978 and 1983.
- Popularity: Yitzhak is very rare worldwide and mainly used in the U.S.
Ymir
Ymir is an extraordinary name taken from a Norse deity whose giant body helped form the human race. It’s made up of the Old Norse “ymja,” meaning “to whine” and “to cry.” Ymir is also the name of one of Saturn’s moons and is often used for stand-out anime characters.
- Origin: Scandinavian
- Meaning: Twin, cry
- Pronunciation: IY-Mihr
- Variations: Ymeer, Ymeere, Ymire, Ymyr
- Popularity: Ymir is extremely rare worldwide, with 75 known occurrences in 2014, primarily in the Philippines.
Yngve
Yngve is a predominantly Scandinavian name based on Yngvi, the Norse name for the Germanic deity Ingu. It also means “belonging to the tribe of the Ingvaeones,” themselves named after Ingu, the powerful one.
- Origin: Scandinavian
- Meaning: First man
- Pronunciation: YNG-Vey
- Variations: Yngvey
- Namesakes: Yngwie Malmsteen, a Swedish guitarist ranked ninth among the greatest electric guitar players by Time Magazine in 2009. Yngve Hallén, the president of the Norwegian Football Association from 2010 to 2016.
- Popularity: Yngve is rare worldwide, primarily used in Sweden, and ranked 322nd in Norway in 2014.
Ynyr
Though it doesn’t have one vowel to offer, Ynyr is an obscure Welsh boy’s name meaning “honor.” It still comes from the Latin Honorius, meaning “respect,” “praise,” and “offering to a deity” in the pagan world.
- Origin: Welsh
- Meaning: Honor
- Pronunciation: Ahn-IHR
- Popularity: Ynyr is extremely rare worldwide, with 56 known occurrences in 2014, mainly in Wales.
Yoandri
Yoandri is among the boy names with Y used mostly in countries like Venezuela but without an official meaning. It may be like other Latin guy names that start with Y based on English names, but which one?
- Origin: Spanish
- Meaning: Strength
- Pronunciation: Yow-AAN-driy
- Variations: Yoandry
- Namesakes: Yoandri Betanzos, a Cuban jumper and gold medalist at the 2003 Pan American Games. Yoandri Díaz, a Cuban volleyball player and bronze medalist at the 2005 America’s Cup.
- Popularity: Yoandri is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Venezuela.
Yoda
Yoda is based on the Sanskrit Yoddha, meaning “warrior,” or Hebrew Yodea, meaning “one who knows.” It’s most famous as the name created by Star Wars director George Lucas for the wise diminutive one known as Yoda.
- Origin: Sanskrit, Hebrew
- Meaning: One who knows
- Pronunciation: YOW-daa
- Popularity: Yoda is very rare worldwide and mostly used in the Ivory Coast, running 1,803rd in 2014.
Yoel
Yoel is a Hebrew variation that became Joel in English. It appeared as Yoʾel, meaning “Yahweh is God,” and is used in Jewish and Spanish cultures.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Jehovah is God
- Pronunciation: Yow-EHL
- Namesakes: Yoel Romero, a Cuban mixed martial artist for Bellator MMA.
- Popularity: Yoel is rare worldwide and mainly used in Cuba, where it ranked 138th in 2014.
Yolotl
Yolotl is a part of many names for boys that start with Y with Aztec origins. It means “heart” in the Nahuatl language, plus “love” and “spirit.” The similarly spelled Yolteotl means “heart of God” and is made up of the Nahu “yollotl,” meaning “heart,” and “teotl,” meaning “God.”
- Origin: Aztec
- Meaning: Heart
- Pronunciation: Yow-LOW-tiyl
- Variations: Yolotil
- Popularity: Yolotl is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Mexico.
Yoma
In Jewish tradition, Yoma is related to the Hebrew “order of festivals” in the Talmud. It means “God is good” in Nigeria, yet it’s one of many Japanese words meaning “monster” to keep things interesting.
- Origin: African, Nigerian
- Meaning: God is good
- Pronunciation: YOW-maa
- Popularity: Yoma is rare worldwide, mostly used in Egypt, and ranked 890th in Togo in 2014.
Yona
Yona may have originated as Ionians, the first Greeks in India. In the Bible, Yona is known as Jonah, who was swallowed by a whale. It means “bear” in Cherokee and refers to the black nighttime between sunset and sunrise in Japanese.
- Origin: Native American, Hebrew
- Meaning: Dove
- Pronunciation: YOW-Naa
- Variations: Yonah
- Namesakes: Yona Kesse, an Israeli member of the Knesset between 1949 and 1965. Yona Kosashvili, an Israeli chess player who competed at the 1990 Israeli Chess Championship.
- Popularity: Yona is rare worldwide and mainly used in Tanzania, ranking 362nd in 2014.
Yong
Yong is composed of the Chinese “yǒng,” meaning “brave” or “eternal.” Yong is also a Korean surname meaning “sun.”
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Courageous
- Pronunciation: YAONG
- Variations: Yonge
- Namesakes: Li Yong, the Director General of the UN Industrial Development Organization from 2013 to 2021. Li Yong, a Chinese TV host for Lucky 52.
- Popularity: Yong ranked 55th worldwide, is primarily used in China, and ranked 4th in Singapore in 2014.
Yorath
Yorath appears as the Anglo variation of the Welsh Iorwerth, made up of “ior,” meaning “lord,” and “berth,” meaning “handsome.” It also refers to a “worthy lord” as a surname. Yorath Island is the name of a small island outside the city of Saskatoon.
- Origin: Welsh
- Meaning: Handsome lord
- Pronunciation: YAO-Raath
- Popularity: Yorath is extremely rare worldwide, with just 17 known occurrences in 2014, mostly in Wales.
Yorgos
Yorgos is an alternative form of the Greek Giorgos, meaning “farmer.” It’s ranked in the top 10 names in Greece and is composed of the Greek “gê,” meaning “soil,” and “érgon,” meaning “work.”
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Farmer
- Pronunciation: YAOR-Gows
- Variations: Yiorgos, Yorgo
- Namesakes: Yorgos Mavropsaridis, a Greek film editor known for The Favorite (2018). Yorgos Lanthimos, a Greek director known for The Lobster (2015).
- Popularity: Yorgos is very rare worldwide and mainly used in Greece, where it ranked 1,256th in 2014.
Yorick
Yorick has two possible origins, the first of which relates to the English York, meaning “boar settlement.” It’s also another form of the Greek Yiorgos, meaning “earthworker.” Yorick is a character in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet known as a court jester whose skull is exhumed by a gravedigger.
- Origin: English, Scandinavian
- Meaning: Earth worker
- Pronunciation: YOWR-ihk
- Variations: Yorrick, Yorrik
- Namesakes: Yorick Treille, a French ice hockey player for the Chicago Blackhawks. Yorick van Wageningen, a Dutch actor known for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011).
- Popularity: Yorrick is very rare worldwide, mostly used in the Netherlands, and ranked 565th in Gabon in 2014.
York
York means “Yew settlement,” which helped name the northern English city of York. It derives from the Old English “eoforwīc,” meaning “wild boar settlement.”
- Origin: English
- Meaning: From the Yew estate
- Pronunciation: YAORK
- Variations: Yorke, Yorck, Yorc
- Namesakes: York, an 18th-century American explorer and the only African-American member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. York Bowen, an English composer awarded the Hawkes and Co. Prize for Intermezzo (1920).
- Popularity: York is rare worldwide, primarily used in the U.S., and ranked 1,649th in Cambodia in 2014.
Yosef
Yosef is the Hebrew form of the Arabic Yusuf, meaning “God increases.” The biblical Joseph best represents it, using the Hebrew root “yadah,” meaning “fame.”
- Origin: Arabic, Hebrew
- Meaning: Praise, fame
- Pronunciation: YOW-Sehf
- Variations: Yossef, Yoseph
- Namesakes: Yosef Weitz, the Jewish-Russian Land and Afforestation Department director of the Jewish National Fund. Yosef Reinman, an American Orthodox rabbi and author of One People, Two Worlds.
- Popularity: Yosef is rare worldwide and mainly used in Israel, ranking number one in 2014.
Yoshi
Yoshi means “good luck” in Japanese, in addition to “righteous,” “good,” and “virtuous.” It’s also known as a character in the Super Mario video game.
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Good, respectful
- Pronunciation: YOW-Shiy
- Namesakes: Naofumi Yamamoto (ring name Yoshi Tatsu), a Japanese wrestler with All Japan Pro Wrestling. Yoshi Sodeoka, a Japanese artist with digital work featured at the Whitney Museum of American Art.
- Popularity: Yoshi is rare worldwide and primarily used in Japan, where it ranked 891st in 2014.
Yoshihiko
Like other Asian-based boy names that start with Y, Yoshihiko has multiple meanings. It can mean “excellent” and “fine,” plus “justice” and “elegant boy.” Yoshihiko even relates to “good luck” for your charmed baby boy.
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Splendid
- Pronunciation: Yow-shih-HHIY-Kow
- Variations: Yoshiro
- Namesakes: Yoshihiko Osaki, a Japanese swimmer and silver medalist at the 1960 Summer Olympics. Yoshihiko Hosoda, a Japanese actor known for Detroit Metal City (2008).
- Popularity: Yoshihiko is rare worldwide and primarily used in Japan, where it ranked 247th in 2014.
Yoshir
Yoshir feels familiar yet has no official meanings or origins. Though unrelated, it appears similar to Yoshi, a Japanese boy’s name meaning “good” and a nickname for Yoshiro.
- Origin: Unknown
- Meaning: Unknown
- Pronunciation: YOW-sheer
- Popularity: Yoshir is extremely rare worldwide, with just six known occurrences in 2014, primarily in Venezuela.
Yoshirō
Yoshirō is a variation of the longer Yoshihiro and uses the Japanese “yoshi,” meaning “good luck,” with “man.” It’s the ideal good luck charm for the baby boy you love best.
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Happy individual
- Pronunciation: Yow-SHIH-row
- Variations: Yoshyro
- Namesakes: Yoshiro Sonoda, a Japanese long jumper who competed at the 1956 Summer Olympics. Yoshirō Mori, the Prime Minister of Japan from 2000 to 2001.
- Popularity: Yoshirō is rare worldwide and mainly used in Japan, ranking 312th in 2014.
Yovanni
Like Jovanni, Yovanni is an even more unique take on Giovanni, the Italian and Latin form of John. Yovanni is among many male names that start with Y appearing in Latin populations, but more often as Yovani.
- Origin: Italian, Hebrew
- Meaning: God is gracious
- Pronunciation: Yow-VAAN-iy
- Variations: Yovani
- Popularity: Yovanni is extremely rare worldwide, with 57 known occurrences in 2014, mostly in the Dominican Republic.
Ysandro
Ysandro is a Spanish version of a nickname for Alexandro. Though somewhat different, it’s often associated with the similar Ysidro, though Ysandro is not as common.
- Origin: Spanish, Greek
- Meaning: Man’s liberator
- Pronunciation: Iy-SAEN-Drow
- Variations: Ysandroe, Ysandrow
- Popularity: Ysandro is extremely rare worldwide, with just 12 known occurrences in 2014, mostly in Venezuela.
Ysidro
Ysidro is a distinctly Spanish version of Isadore. It’s also a place name for towns in the southwestern U.S., named after Isidore the Laborer, an 11th-century Spanish saint.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Gift of Isis
- Pronunciation: Iy-SIY-Drow
- Variations: Isidro
- Popularity: Ysidro is rare worldwide, mainly used in Mexico, and ranked 690th in the Dominican Republic in 2014.
Yuan
Yuan is best known as a Spanish phonetic spelling for Juan. It’s based in Hebrew, just as other forms of John are. It’s one of the shorter Y names for boys that’s also Japanese for “round,” “spherical,” and “deep water.”
- Origin: Chinese, Spanish
- Meaning: Circular
- Pronunciation: YWAEN
- Variations: Juan
- Namesakes: Yuan Sheng, a Chinese piano player and founder of the charity program Path to Brightness.
- Popularity: Yuan is rare worldwide, primarily used in Taiwan, and ranked 109th in Macau in 2014.
Yug
Yug refers to an “age” and a “generation.” In Hinduism, a Yug(a) Cycle is an era lasting for 4,320,000 years. Yug is also linked to Murugan, the Hindu god of war.
- Origin: Indian, Hindi
- Meaning: Time
- Pronunciation: YOOG
- Popularity: Yug is very rare worldwide and primarily used in India.
Yuki
Yuki means “snow” and “lucky” and is also associated with “gentle hope.” It even brings up the beautiful image of a “snowflower” for a winter-born boy.
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Snow
- Pronunciation: YUW-Kiy
- Variations: Yukio
- Namesakes: Yuki Iwata, a Japanese director known for Looking for a True Fiancee (2011). Yuki Ishikawa, a Japanese volleyball player for the Japan National Volleyball team.
- Popularity: Yuki is rare worldwide and mainly used in Japan, ranking 82nd in 2014.
Yuma
Yuma refers to the Native American Yuma tribe and was the name of the biggest river port once used for trading. It means “river port” and “calm truth” in Japanese. Yuma is a well-known city in the desert of Southwestern Arizona.
- Origin: Native American, Japanese
- Meaning: Son of the chief
- Pronunciation: YOO-mah
- Variations: Yuuma
- Namesakes: Yuma Kagiyama, a Japanese figure skater and the 2022 Olympic silver medalist. Yuma Nakayama, a Japanese singer and member of the group 7 West.
- Popularity: Yuma is rare worldwide and primarily used in the DR Congo, where it ranked 999th in 2014.
Yunis
Yunis is a Hebrew variation of Jonah based on “yona,” meaning “dove.” Its Greek origins also use the meanings “sign” or “omen” for Yunis, while it means “Arabic flower found in heaven” in Arabic.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Dove
- Pronunciation: YUW-Nihs
- Variations: Yunus
- Namesakes: Yunis Abdelhamid, a French footballer for the Morocco national team.
- Popularity: Yunis is rare worldwide, mostly used in Kenya, and ranked 253rd in Somalia in 2014.
Yuri
Yuri is a Russian boy’s name meaning “the light of God,” but is also a Japanese girl’s name meaning “lily.” As a boy’s name, it’s based on the Greek Giorgios but became famous with Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.
- Origin: Russian
- Meaning: Farmer
- Pronunciation: YUW-Riy
- Variations: Yury, Yuriy, Yurij
- Namesakes: Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet cosmonaut and the first human being to enter outer space. Yuri Lyapkin, a Russian ice hockey and gold medalist at the 1976 Olympics.
- Popularity: Yuri is rare worldwide, mainly used in Brazil, and ranked 95th in Angola in 2014.
Yuria
Yuria may sound feminine, but it relates to Uriah, meaning “my light is Jehovah.” Yuria was one of King David’s warriors in the Bible, where many boy names with Y originate.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: My light is Jehovah
- Pronunciation: Yuw-RIY-ah
- Variations: Yuriya
- Popularity: Yuria is very rare worldwide and primarily used in Indonesia.
Yuvaan
Yuvaan means “youthful,” “healthy,” and “the moon.” It also references Lord Shiva and is associated with the Hindu deities Indra, Agni, and Marut.
- Origin: Indian, Hindi
- Meaning: Youthful
- Pronunciation: Yuw-VAAN
- Variations: Yuvan
- Namesakes: Yuvaan Makar, an Indian child actor appearing in My Name Is Khan.
- Popularity: Yuvaan is extremely rare worldwide, with 29 known occurrences in 2014, mainly in Malaysia.
Yuwen
Yuwen is more familiar among boy names that start with Y as a Chinese surname. It first referred to a branch of the Xianbei people, yet it’s also Sanskrit for “known throughout the world.”
- Origin: Chinese
- Meaning: Young
- Pronunciation: YUW-ehn
- Popularity: Yuwen is rare worldwide, mainly used in China, and ranked 85th in Taiwan in 2014.
Yvan
Yvan is one of the most special forms of Ivan, the Slavic form of John. It means “God is merciful” from the Hebrew “yeho,” meaning “God,” and “ḥanán,” meaning “to show favor.”
- Origin: Russian, Hebrew
- Meaning: God is gracious
- Pronunciation: Ih-VAHN
- Variations: Iwan
- Namesakes: Yvan Attal, a French actor known for Un monde sans pitié (1989). Yvan Cournoyer, a Canadian hockey player for the Montreal Canadiens.
- Popularity: Yvan ranked 678th worldwide and is primarily used in Ukraine, ranking 11th in 2014.
Yves
Yves is the French variation of ancient Gaulish names like Ivorix and Ivomagus, meaning “yew.” The yew is an evergreen tree once used for making archery bows for young warriors like yours.
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Yew
- Pronunciation: IYV
- Variations: Ives
- Namesakes: Yves Saint Laurent, a French fashion designer known for his ready-to-wear clothing line. Yves Bouthillier, the French Minister of Finance from 1940 to 1942.
- Popularity: Yves ranked 1,255th worldwide and is mostly used in France, ranking 48th in 2014.
Yvo
Yvo is a form of Ivo or Ivon, based on the German “Iv,” meaning “yew,” or “iwa,” meaning “archer.” It was the name of Cornish and Breton saints, still occasionally used in various European countries.
- Origin: German, French
- Meaning: Yew tree
- Pronunciation: Iy-VOW
- Variations: Ivo
- Popularity: Yvo is very rare worldwide, mainly used in the Netherlands, and ranked 1,146th in Belgium in 2014.
Ywain
Ywain is an example of names for boys that start with Y that appears as a typo. It also means “well-born” and is a variant of the Welsh Owain. The Irish equivalent is Eoghan, but both date back to the Latin Eugenius, which became Owen in English.
- Origin: Welsh
- Meaning: Youth
- Pronunciation: EUW-eayn
- Variations: Yvain, Ywan
- Namesakes: Ywain Gwynedd, a Welsh musician and lead singer of the band Yws Gwynedd.
- Popularity: Ywain is extremely rare worldwide, with 51 known occurrences in 2014, primarily in the U.S.
Yy
Barely a name, Yy appears in Russia as the simplest of nicknames for names ending in “y” and “-iy.” Yy was a surname for a single-family living in the U.S. in 1880. YY.com is also the name for a Chinese social network.
- Origin: Unknown
- Meaning: Unknown
- Pronunciation: Unknown
- Popularity: Yy is very rare worldwide and is mostly used in Russia.
