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 Aug 7, 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 in piety, power, and influence
Yaretzi	Girl	You will always be loved
Yara	Girl	Lady of the lake
Yosef	Boy	God shall add
Yareli	Girl	Lady of the water
Yehuda	Boy	God will be praised
Yousef	Boy	Jehovah increases
Yahir	Boy	He will enlighten
Yaakov	Boy	Supplanter or he who follows after
Yadiel	Boy	Praise of God

Yael	Boy	Mountain goat
Yamileth	Girl	Beautiful
Yahya	Boy	The almighty is gracious
Yuna	Girl	Gentleness; Friendliness
Yaritza	Girl	Water lady
Yaseen	Unisex	Leader, enlightened, compassionate
Yasmine	Girl	Jasmine flower
Yoel	Boy	God is willing
Yusra	Girl	Wealth; Ease
Yasir	Boy	Easy-going and prosperous

Youssef	Boy	God increases; God will add
Yakov	Boy	Supplanter or holder of the heel
Yuvaan	Unisex	Youthful, energetic, strong
Yair	Boy	God will teach
Yasin	Boy	Healer, kind-hearted, compassionate
Yerik	Boy	Strong ruler; Appointed by God
Yeshua	Unisex	Savior or God saves
Yuliana	Girl	Youthful
Yvette	Girl	A skilled archer
Yazan	Boy	A determined man

Yazmin	Girl	Flower or jasmine
Yehoshua	Boy	Yahweh is salvation
Yesenia	Girl	Palm tree
Yariel	Unisex	Lion of God
Yamilet	Girl	Beautiful; Beloved
Yunus	Boy	Dove; Jonah
Yehudis	Girl	Praised
Yaneli	Girl	God is gracious
Yohan	Boy	God is gracious
Yasmeen	Girl	Jasmine flower

Yurani	Unisex	Bright; Radiant light
Yousuf	Boy	God increases; God will add
Yousif	Boy	God increases
Yuri	Unisex	Lily; Light
Yoselin	Girl	Little Goth
Yandel	Unisex	Strong and determined
Yana	Unisex	God is gracious
Yuvraj	Boy	Prince or heir apparent
Yasiel	Unisex	Driven; Charismatic; Adventurous
Younis	Girl	Dove; Peaceful

Yvonne	Girl	Archer's bow
Yash	Boy	Victory or glory
Yisrael	Boy	To struggle with God
Yechiel	Boy	May God live
Yusef	Boy	He will add
Yahaira	Unisex	Gift from God
Yocheved	Girl	God's honor
Yassin	Unisex	One who is rich and prosperous
Yuvan	Boy	Youthful
Yitty	Unisex	Jewish woman; Home ruler

Yulissa	Girl	A beautiful girl
Yatziri	Girl	Gift of God
Yonatan	Boy	God's gift
Yasmina	Girl	Jasmine flower
Yahel	Unisex	Divine brilliance
Yahia	Girl	Gift of God
Ysabella	Girl	My God is an oath; God's promise; Consecrated to God
Yadier	Boy	Strong; Determined; Masculine
Yug	Boy	Age; Generation
Yasser	Girl	Easy-going, compassionate, resourceful

Yadira	Girl	Worthy; Beloved; Friend
Yannick	Unisex	God is gracious
Yamila	Boy	Beautiful and strong
Yaqub	Boy	Supplanter; Heel grabber
Yohana	Girl	God is gracious
Yovani	Boy	God is gracious
Yumi	Girl	A beautiful archery bow
Yosiah	Boy	Gift of God
Yamir	Unisex	Handsome; Attractive
Yanis	Unisex	Gift of God

Yeshaya	Unisex	God is salvation
Yohanna	Boy	Gift of God
Yajaira	Boy	Precious; Princess; Jewel
Yari	Girl	Water lady
Yessenia	Girl	Palm tree
Yaiza	Girl	princess or white flower
Yared	Boy	A form of Jared; Rose
Yiannis	Boy	God is gracious
Younes	Unisex	God is gracious
Yalitza	Girl	Unique and adventurous

Yohannes	Boy	Gift of God
Yan	Boy	Beautiful; Gorgeous
Yulian	Unisex	Youthful and light-hearted
Yechezkel	Boy	God will strengthen
Yaziel	Unisex	Gift of God
Yossi	Unisex	Gift of God
Yves	Boy	Yew
Yemaya	Unisex	Goddess of the ocean
Yoan	Boy	Gift from God
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.

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)

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.

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.