781 Youthful Baby Names That Start With Y

Say yes to unique and youthful Y names for your baby.

Written by Nisha Bharatan, B.Tech Specialty: Kids Fun and Developmental ActivitiesExperience: 6 years

Nisha Bharatan is a writer with six years of experience. After completing her engineering from Savitribai Phule Pune University, she did content marketing courses to complement her interest in writing. Nisha discovered her passion for writing in 2016 when she started documenting her journey into motherhood.

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Edited by Rohit Garoo, BSc, MBA Specialty: Baby Health and WellnessExperience: 9 years

Rohit Garoo is a writer-turned-editor with over 9 years of experience in content writing, editing, and content marketing. He did his bachelors in Science at St. Xavier's College, Hyderabad, and masters in Business Administration at Osmania University.

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Fact-checked by Sakshi Mishra, MSc Specialty: Health & WellnessExperience: 3 years

Sakshi holds a bachelor’s degree in Science and a master’s in Bioinformatics from Panjab University, India. She has worked on a research project, “In silico ligand designing exhibiting anti-diabetic activity derived from responsible phytochemicals of selected herbs.

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Last Updated on Nov 14, 2024

Illustration: MomJunction Design Team

Baby names that start with Y are extraordinary and special, just like your little one. This letter holds significant importance in many religions and languages. Historically, many famous figures, including the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, and Japanese samurai Yamamoto Tsunetomo, have names that begin with this letter.

The letter Y we use today is derived from the Greek letter upsilon. In the first century BC, it was reintroduced into Latin with a minor modification, a 'foot,' to distinguish it. It is pronounced similarly to the word 'why.' This letter holds important significance in many different religions. In Egyptian mythology, Y is associated with Hathor, who is represented by the cow's horn. Hathor, the mother of Horus, is known as the son of God. In Egyptian esotericism, the letter Y is also associated with Horus, the hawk god. In Hebrew, the letter Y is Yod, which means 'fire.' In Judaism, Yod represents the One God, expressing God's oneness and unity in all living things. These associations lead to finding names beginning with this letter in several languages and cultures.

Masculine, Y-letter names are popular in many cultures as they are celebrated for their unique meanings. For example, Ethiopian Yacob means ‘supplanter’ or ‘holder of the heel,’ Arabic Yasir means ‘to be rich,’ and Arabic Yara means ‘friend’ or ‘helper.’

Similarly, many feminine names that share Y as an initial were also quite popular during the last century. These include Arabic and Hebrew Yasmin meaning ‘jasmine,’ French and English Yvette meaning ‘yew,’ and Spanish and English Yolanda meaning ‘violet’ (1). Gender-neutral options such as Chinese Yang, Hebrew Yona, and French Yanick are also loved by many parents for their meaningful associations. Inspired by these popular names and their associations in different cultures, many parents choose to give Y names to their babies.

Name	Gender	Meaning
Yusuf	Boy	God increases; He will add
Yaretzi	Girl	You will always be loved; Friend; Helper
Yara	Girl	Lady of the lake; Friend; Helper; Small butterfly; Courage; Strength
Yosef	Boy	God shall add
Yareli	Girl	Lady of the water
Yehuda	Boy	Praise
Yousef	Boy	Jehovah increases
Yahir	Boy	He will enlighten
Yaakov	Boy	Supplanter; Holder of the heel; May God protect
Yadiel	Boy	God's praise

Yael	Boy	Mountain goat; Ibex
Yamileth	Girl	Beautiful
Yahya	Boy	God is gracious; Manly
Yuna	Girl	Gentleness; Friendliness; Excellence
Yaritza	Girl	Friend; Helper; Lady of the water; Small butterfly
Yaseen	Unisex	Chapter of the Quran
Yasmine	Girl	Jasmine flower
Yoel	Boy	Yahweh is God
Yusra	Girl	Wealth; Ease
Yasir	Boy	To be rich; To become easy

Youssef	Boy	God will add
Yakov	Boy	Supplanter; May God protect; Holder of the heel
Yuvaan	Unisex	Young person; Strong; Healthy; Excellent
Yair	Boy	He shines
Yasin	Boy	36th chapter of the Quran
Yerik	Boy	Freedom; Will
Yeshua	Unisex	Savior; God is salvation
Yuliana	Girl	Downy bearded
Yvette	Girl	A skilled archer; Yew tree
Yazan	Boy	A determined man; A Himyarite king

Yazmin	Girl	Jasmine
Yehoshua	Boy	Yahweh is salvation
Yesenia	Girl	A variety of palm trees; Flower
Yariel	Unisex	Lion of God
Yamilet	Girl	Beautiful
Yunus	Boy	Dove; Peaceful being; God's gift; Accomplishment
Yehudis	Girl	Praised
Yaneli	Girl	God is gracious
Yohan	Boy	God is gracious; Shine; Sparkle; Sunlight
Yasmeen	Girl	Jasmine flower

Yurani	Unisex	A person who follows principle
Yousuf	Boy	God increases; God will add
Yousif	Boy	God will add
Yuri	Unisex	Earthworker; Farmer; Lily; Permanence; Village; Dawn
Yoselin	Girl	A member of the Gauts tribe
Yandel	Unisex	Strong and determined
Yana	Unisex	God is gracious; Doer of good deeds
Yuvraj	Boy	Heir apparent; Crown prince; Young prince
Yasiel	Unisex	God is my maker
Younis	Girl	Dove

Yvonne	Girl	Yew tree; Archer
Yash	Boy	Glory; Fame; Success
Yisrael	Boy	God contends
Yechiel	Boy	May God live
Yusef	Boy	He will add
Yahaira	Unisex	Precious; Dear
Yocheved	Girl	Yahweh is glory
Yassin	Unisex	36th chapter of the Quran
Yuvan	Boy	Youthful; God is gracious
Yitty	Unisex	Jewish woman; The Jutes tribe; Star; Home ruler

Yulissa	Girl	Downy-bearded; Descended of Jove
Yatziri	Girl	Maiden of the moon; Friend; Lady of the water
Yonatan	Boy	Yahweh has given
Yasmina	Girl	Jasmine flower
Yahel	Unisex	To shine; To make a halo; Fertile upland
Yahia	Girl	Yahweh is gracious
Ysabella	Girl	My God is an oath; God's promise; Consecrated to God
Yadier	Boy	Friend; Companion
Yug	Boy	Linking or joining something together; Era; Generation; World
Yasser	Girl	To be rich; To become easy

Yadira	Girl	Worthy; Beloved; Friend
Yannick	Unisex	God is gracious
Yamila	Boy	Beautiful; To be beautiful
Yaqub	Boy	Supplanter; Holder of the heel; May god protect
Yohana	Girl	God is gracious
Yovani	Boy	God is gracious
Yumi	Girl	A beautiful archery bow
Yosiah	Boy	God supports and heals
Yamir	Unisex	Moon
Yanis	Unisex	God is gracious

Yeshaya	Unisex	God is salvation
Yohanna	Boy	Yahweh is gracious
Yajaira	Boy	Precious; Beloved; Dignified; Princess; Jewel; Clear as day
Yari	Girl	Small gold jewelry; To strive or fight
Yessenia	Girl	Palm tree
Yaiza	Girl	One who equally shares; Little; Small; Young
Yared	Boy	Descent; Descending
Yiannis	Boy	God is gracious
Younes	Unisex	Dove
Yalitza	Girl	Being; Essence

Yohannes	Boy	Yahweh is gracious
Yan	Boy	God is gracious; Beautiful; Gorgeous; Cliffs; Rocks
Yulian	Unisex	Downy-bearded
Yechezkel	Boy	God will strengthen
Yaziel	Unisex	Whom God made
Yossi	Unisex	He will add
Yves	Boy	Yew
Yemaya	Unisex	Mother of fish; Goddess of the Ogun river
Yoan	Boy	Yahweh is gracious
Yanni	Boy	God is gracious

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Names that start with the letter Y are quirky and one-of-a-kind, from the charming Yara to the distinguished Yusuf. The letter holds the number 7 in numerology, which represents the search for mystical knowledge. Y-letter names are also associated with notable figures, which further enhances their appeal. Explore our compilation of baby names to find the perfect moniker for your little one. Whether you're looking for a classic or a modern name with a unique twist, our collection has something for everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are some nature-inspired names that start with the letter Y?

Nature-inspired names starting with the letter Y include various beautiful options from different cultures. For example, Yaamir is a masculine name of Arabic origin, meaning ‘the moon,’ Yael, a Hebrew masculine name, meaning ‘mountain goat,’ or Yasmin, a girl’s name of Persian origin, meaning ‘jasmine flower,’ not only connect to nature but also carry deep cultural and linguistic roots, making them meaningful and distinctive choices.

2. Who are some celebrities having Y names?

Yes, several celebrities have unique names that start with the letter Y. Yara Sayeh Shahidi is an American actress and producer best known for her role in the sitcom Black-ish. Yasmine Bleeth is an American actress and model noted for her roles in Baywatch and Ryan's Hope. These celebrities have unique Y names and have significantly contributed to their respective fields, making their names well-known and admired.

3. What are some Biblical names that start with Y?

While the Bible predominantly features names that begin with other letters, a few names that start with Y can be found in various translations and contexts. Yahweh is the name of the state God of Israel interprets as 'I am,' 'He That Is,' 'He Who Makes That Which Has Been Made (1).' Yeshua, an alternative form of Yehoshua or Joshua, appears in the later books of the Hebrew Bible and is derived from the English spelling Jesus.

4. What are some royal names that start with Y?

A popular royal name starting with Y is Yolanda, a Greek feminine name meaning ‘violet,’ which has been borne by several regal figures. Among them, Yolanda of Flanders was the Empress of the Latin Empire in Constantinople during the 13th century. Valiant of Hungary or Yolanda of Hungary, was the queen of Aragon in the 13th century and the second wife of King James I of Aragon. These examples show that this name has been associated with nobility and royalty throughout history.

Infographic: Baby Names Starting With Y

Baby names that start with Y are unique and often stand out, making them a popular choice for parents seeking something different and memorable. Y-letter names hold significance in many religions and languages, which makes them meaningful. These names are youthful and vibrant and have a contemporary feel. Take a look at the infographic below to find a meaningful name that best suits your baby.

baby names that start with y (infographic)

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.

Social Security Administration.
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
Yahweh.
https://www.worldhistory.org/Yahweh/

Look Up For Many More Names

Do you have a name in mind and want to know more about it? Or want to find names belonging to a particular origin, religion, or having a specific meaning? Use our search tool below to explore more baby names with different combinations.