23 Baby Names That Start With the Letter "Y"

There are plenty of ways to go about choosing a name for your baby. You might consider names based on your family’s origin, your favorite pieces of pop culture, or you might simply pick names that carry a special meaning.

Some families like to choose a name based on a letter. Perhaps it’s the same letter as your last name (so your child will have double initials), or perhaps you want your child’s initials to spell something out. Or maybe you have multiple children and want their names to begin with the same letter or sound.

If the letter “Y” is what you’re after, you have some very unique names to choose from. Ahead, check out some of our favorite "Y" names, along with their origin and meaning.

Yael

• Origin: Hebrew
• Meaning: Mountain goat
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Jael
• Famous Namesakes: "Jane the Virgin" star Yael Grobglas is one of the most famous people with this name.
• Peak Popularity: Yael became popular in the 2000s. Its biggest year was 2013.

Yahya

• Origin: Arabic
• Meaning: God is gracious
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Yaya
• Famous Namesakes: Actors Yahya Abdul-Mateen and Yaya DaCosta both share this name.
• Peak Popularity: Yahya peaked in 2017.

Yakub

• Origin: Arabic
• Meaning: Supplanter
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Jacob
• Peak Popularity: While Yakub has not yet made the list of popular baby names in the United States, the similar name Jacob has spent many years as No. 1.

Yamilet

• Origin: Spanish
• Meaning: Beautiful
• Peak Popularity: Yamilet peaked in 2000 but has stayed on the list for a few years since then.

Yaniv

• Origin: Hebrew
• Meaning: He will prosper
• Peak Popularity: Yaniv does not appear on the list of popular baby names for the United States.

Yareli

• Origin: Native American
• Meaning: Small butterfly or water lady
• Peak Popularity: Yareli peaked in 2009, but has maintained a steady popularity since then.

Yaritza

• Origin: Spanish
• Meaning: Butterfly
• Peak Popularity: Yaritza was a popular name in the 1990s, peaking in 1993.

Yaroslav

• Origin: Russian
• Meaning: Bright fame
• Peak Popularity: Yaroslav does not appear in the list of popular baby names.

Yaser

• Origin: Arabic
• Meaning: Easy
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Yasser, Yasir
• Peak Popularity: Yaser hasn’t yet made the list of popular baby names in the U.S.

Yasmine

• Origin: Arabic
• Meaning: Jasmine flower
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Yasmin, Jasmine
• Famous Namesakes: Actress Yasmine Bleeth is one of the more well-known people with this name.
• Peak Popularity: Yasmine was popular in the 1990s. Its most popular year was 1997.

Yeardley

• Origin: English
• Meaning: From the wood where spars were got
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Yardley
• Peak Popularity: Yeardley doesn’t appear on the list of popular baby names.

Yelena

• Origin: Portuguese
• Meaning: Light
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Helena, Helen
• Peak Popularity: Yelena hasn’t yet found a spot on the list of popular baby names.

Yesenia

• Origin: Spanish
• Meaning: Palm tree
• Peak Popularity: Yesenia saw most of its popularity in the 1980s. It peaked in 1987.

Yessica

• Origin: Spanish
• Meaning: God beholds
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Jessica
• Peak Popularity: Yessica does not appear in the list of popular baby names.

Ygritte

• Origin: English
• Meaning: Windling
• Famous Namesakes: Rose Leslie’s character in "Game of Thrones" is named Ygritte, which is one of the most well-known uses of this name in pop culture.
• Peak Popularity: Ygritte is not on the list of popular baby names in the United States.

Yolanda

• Origin: Spanish
• Meaning: Violet flower
• Famous Namesakes: Singer Yolanda Adams is one of the most famous people with this name.
• Peak Popularity: Yolanda was popular in the 1970s, peaking in 1972.

York

• Origin: English
• Meaning: From the town of Eburos
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Yorke
• Peak Popularity: York is not on the list of popular baby names.
  

Yoshi

• Origin: Japanese
• Meaning: Good, respectful
• Famous Namesakes: One of the most well-known Yoshis is the Nintendo character in "Super Mario."
• Peak Popularity: Yoshi doesn’t appear on the list of popular baby names.

Yul

• Origin: Russian
• Meaning: Youthful
• Famous Namesakes: Actor Yul Brynner is one of the most famous people with this name.
• Peak Popularity: Yul doesn’t have a place on the list of the most popular names for babies born in the U.S.
  

Yuma

• Origin: Native American
• Meaning: Son of the chief
• Peak Popularity: Yuma doesn’t appear on the list of popular baby names.

Yusef

• Origin: Arabic
• Meaning: God will increase
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Yusuf
• Peak Popularity: Yusef doesn’t appear on the popular baby names list, however Yusuf does. It peaked in 2019.

Yvette

• Origin: French
• Meaning: Yew tree
• Famous Namesakes: Actress Yvette Nicole Brown is one of the most famous people with this name.
• Peak Popularity: Yvette was popular in the 1960s, peaking in 1967.

Yvonne

• Origin: French
• Meaning: Yew
• Famous Namesakes: Actresses Yvonne Printemps, Yvonne Zima, and Yvonne Monlaur all share this name.
• Peak Popularity: Yvonne was popular in the early 1900s. Its biggest year was 1933.