You might not hear many baby boy names that start with Y, and that’s part of what makes them so special. Y names often carry rich meanings tied to qualities like freedom, faith, and individuality, giving your little one a name that feels both distinctive and meaningful.
This list of boy names that start with Y includes everything from more familiar choices to rare, global gems. As you read through the origins and meanings, see which names you keep coming back to—sometimes the right one quietly rises to the top of your list.
Boy Names That Start With Y
From well-known picks to lesser-used gems, these Y boy names offer a wide range of styles and meanings to help you build your shortlist.
10 Popular Boy Names That Start With Y
These popular Y boy names are rising in use for good reason, combining meaningful roots with sounds that feel familiar and easy to love.
1. Yaakov — Hebrew for “supplanting.”
2. Yadiel — This name means “God has heard” in Spanish.
3. Yael — A Hebrew name meaning “ibex.”
4. Yahir — This name means “He will enlighten” in Hebrew and Arabic.
5. Yahya — Arabic for “God is gracious.”
6. Yehuda — In Hebrew, this name means “to praise.”
7. Yisroel — This name means “God contented” in Hebrew.
8. Yosef — Hebrew for “God shall add.”
9. Yuri — A Japanese name meaning “lily.”
10. Yusuf — Arabic for “Jehovah increases.”
12 Common Boy Names That Start With Y
If you like names that feel approachable and recognizable, these Y boy names offer a comfortable, well-loved feel without being overused.
1. Yacob — Hebrew for “supplanter.”
2. Yahweh — In Hebrew, this name means “I am” or “He that is.”
3. Yarrow — English for “rough stream.”
4. Yasin — An Arabic name meaning “letters of the alphabet.”
5. Yasir — This name means “wealthy” or “prosperous” in Arabic.
6. Yasuke — A Japanese name whose meaning is unknown.
7. Yeshua — Hebrew for “the Lord is my salvation.”
8. Yoel — In Hebrew, this name means “Jehovah is his God.”
9. Yohan — German for “God is gracious.”
10. Yoshi — A Japanese name meaning “good” or “respectful.”
11. Yousef — This name means “Jehovah increases” in Arabic.
12. Yves — French for “yew wood.”
101 Unique Boy Names That Start With Y
For parents who want something a little different, this list of Y boy names highlights creative, meaningful options you won’t hear every day.
1. Yaatiesh — In Sanskrit, this name means “Lord of devotees.”
2. Yadavendra — This name means “Lord Krishna” in Sanskrit.
3. Yaeli — Hebrew for “ibex.”
4. Yafeal — This name means “beautiful” in Hebrew.
5. Yafet — This Hebrew name also means “beautiful.”
6. Yagmur — A Turkish name meaning “rain.”
7. Yagnesh — In Hindi, this name means “religious leader.”
8. Yahiko — Japanese for “increasing boy.”
9. Yaiden — An English name whose meaning is unknown.
10. Yair — In Hebrew, this name means “he shines.”
11. Yajnadhar — This name means “Lord Vishnu” in Sanskrit.
12. Yajur — Sanskrit for “one who sacrifices.”
13. Yale — Welsh for “fertile upland.”
14. Yam — In Hebrew, this name means “sea.”
15. Yama — This name means “mountain” in Japanese.
16. Yaman — Turkish for “strong” or “stalwart.”
17. Yamen — This name means “right hand” in Hebrew.
18. Yanai — An Aramaic name meaning “he will answer.”
19. Yanal — Arabic for “gift from God” or “obtain.”
20. Yang — This Chinese name has several meanings, including “ocean” and “light.”
21. Yaniel — In Hebrew, this name means “God is my judge.”
22. Yanis — Hebrew for “gift of God.”
23. Yann — This name means “God is gracious” in French.
24. Yannai — An Aramaic name meaning “he will answer.”
25. Yannig — A Breton name meaning “God is gracious.”
26. Yannou — This Breton name also means “God is gracious.”
27. Yantz — German for “God is gracious.”
28. Yao — Ewe for “born on Thursday.”
29. Yapheth — In Hebrew, this name means “handsome” or “to extend.”
30. Yara — This name means “friend” or “helper” in Arabic.
31. Yared — Hebrew for “descent.”
32. Yareth — This name’s exact origin and meaning are unknown.
33. Yarik — Russian for “fierce and glorious.”
34. Yaron — In Hebrew, this name means “he will sing.”
35. Yas — A Native American name meaning “snow.” It also means “jasmine” in Arabic.
36. Yash — Sanskrit for “glory” or “success.”
37. Yasha — This name means “supplanter” in Russian.
38. Yassine — An Arabic name meaning “letters of the alphabet.”
39. Yates — English for “gate.”
40. Yaw — This name means “born on Thursday” in Ghanaian.
41. Yeardley — In English, this name means “wood clearing.”
42. Yedidia — Hebrew for “beloved of the Lord.”
43. Yefrem — This name means “fruitful” or “fertile” in Hebrew.
44. Yegor — Old Norse for “warrior.”
45. Ye-Jun — This name means “leaf” and “ruler” in Chinese.
46. Yentl — A Yiddish name meaning “noble.”
47. Yeong-Cheol — Korean for “eternal” and “wise.”
48. Yeong-Gi — This name means “glory” and “rise” in Korean.
49. Yeong-Ho — This Korean name means “hero” and “bright.”
50. Yeong-Hwan — Korean for “eternal” and “shining.”
51. Yeong-Su — A Korean name meaning “eternal life.”
52. Yeremiah — This name means “appointed by God” in Hebrew.
53. Yerrappa — In Hindi, this name means “red man.”
54. Yeruslan — This name means “lion” in Russian.
55. Yesenia — Spanish for “floral.”
56. Yet — An Old English name meaning “thus far.”
57. Yevin — The meaning and origin of this name are unknown.
58. Yew — A Celtic name for a tree that symbolizes death and resurrection.
59. Ygor — Old Norse for “warrior.”
60. Yi — This Chinese name has several meanings, including “justice” and “harmony.”
61. Yida — An Arabic name whose meaning is unknown.
62. Yirmeyahu — Hebrew for “God has uplifted.”
63. Yishmeray — This name means “He guards me” in Hebrew.
64. Yisrael — Hebrew for “contender with God.”
65. Yissachar — This name means “there is reward” in Hebrew.
66. Yitro — In Hebrew, this name means “abundance” or “plenty.”
67. Ymir — Norse for “cry.”
68. Yngraham — A Scandinavian name meaning “raven of peace.”
69. Yoan — This name means “gift from God” in Hebrew.
70. Yochanan — A Hebrew name meaning “God is gracious.”
71. Yoda — This name means “hero” or “warrior” in Sanskrit.
72. Yodel — An English name meaning “to utter the syllable yo.”
73. Yogi — Sanskrit for “one who practices yoga.”
74. Yohannes — In Hebrew, this name means “God is gracious.”
75. Yolach — The meaning and origin are unknown.
76. Yolando — Spanish for “violet.”
77. Yom — In Hebrew, this name means “day.”
78. Yonah — This name means “dove” in Hebrew.
79. Yonas — An Ethiopian name meaning “dove.”
80. Yonathan — This name means “God has given” in Hebrew.
81. Yoni — Hebrew for “gift of Jehovah.”
82. Yoon — Korean for “consent.”
83. Yoram — In Hebrew, this name means “exalted by God.”
84. Yordanis — This name means “descend” in Hebrew.
85. Yosemite — A Native American name meaning “those who kill.”
86. Yoshiro — Japanese for “righteous son.”
87. Yotam — This name means “the Lord is perfect” in Hebrew.
88. Youman — Middle English for “attendant” or “servant.”
89. Young — An Old English name used to distinguish a younger brother or son.
90. Yrian — This Scandinavian name means “farmer.”
91. Ysmael — Hebrew for “God will hear.”
92. Yucatan — This name means “hear how they talk” in Mayan.
93. Yuddha — In Sanskrit, this name means “war.”
94. Yuji — Japanese for “relaxed and caring.”
95. Yuki — This name means “snow” in Japanese.
96. Yule — In English, this name means “winter solstice.”
97. Yuma — A Native American name meaning “son of a chief.”
98. Yun — Chinese for “cloud.”
99. Yunis — Arabic for “dove.”
100. Yun-Seo — This name means “govern” and “sequence” in Korean.
101. Ywain — Welsh for “youth.”
131 Rare Boy Names That Start With Y
These rare Y boy names are truly uncommon, drawing from many cultures, languages, and stories to give your baby a standout name with depth.
1. Yacoub — This name means “he who supplants” in Hebrew.
2. Yada — Hebrew for “he knew.”
3. Yader — An occupational name for someone who sells dye.
4. Yadier — Hebrew for “friend” or “companion.”
5. Yaduraj — In Sanskrit, this name means “Lord Krishna.”
6. Yaduveer — This name also means “Lord Krishna” in Sanskrit.
7. Yafeu — An Egyptian name meaning “bold.”
8. Yagav — The meaning and origin are unknown.
9. Yago — English for “supplanter.”
10. Yahaziel — This name means “God sees” in Hebrew.
11. Yaheim — The actual meaning and origin of this name are unclear, but it’s said to be a Hebrew name.
12. Yaholo — Muskogee for “one who yells.”
13. Yahye — An Arabic name meaning “God is gracious.”
14. Yairen — The origin and meaning are unknown.
15. Yajush — Sanskrit for “observer of religious ceremonies.”
16. Yakup — A Turkish name meaning “supplanter.”
17. Yalvan — The meaning and origin of this name are unknown.
18. Yamac — Turkish for “hillside.”
19. Yamikani — This name means “be grateful” or “praise” in Chewa.
20. Yamn — This name has an unknown origin and meaning.
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21. Yancarlos — The meaning is unknown, but its origin is Spanish.
22. Yancy — A Native American name meaning “Yankee.”
23. Yaniv — In Hebrew, this name means “he will prosper.”
24. Yanlin — Chinese for “swallow forest.”
25. Yanluis — This Spanish name has an unknown meaning.
26. Yannakis — This name means “God is gracious” in Greek.
27. Yannick — A Breton name meaning “God is gracious.”
28. Yannuel — In Hebrew, this name means “God is with us.”
29. Yansa — Cherokee for “buffalo.”
30. Yaotzin — This name means “the enemy” in Nahuatl.
31. Yaphet — Hebrew for “handsome.”
32. Yaqub — A Hebrew name meaning “he who supplants.”
33. Yarden — In Hebrew, this name means “to flow down” or “descend.”
34. Yardley — English for “wood clearing.”
35. Yarilo — The Slavic god of fertility, vegetation, and springtime.
36. Yarmel — The meaning and origin of this name are unknown.
37. Yaropolk — A Slavic name meaning “fierce host.”
38. Yaroslav — Russian for “fierce and glorious.”
39. Yarovit — This is the name of the Slavic god of war.
40. Yaseen — Arabic for “chief.”
41. Yashank — This name means “happiness” or “Lord Shiva” in Sanskrit.
42. Yat — The origin and meaning are unknown.
43. Yating — Chinese for “elegant” and “graceful.”
44. Yavuz — A Turkish name meaning “resolute” or “grim.”
45. Yawo — This name means “born on Thursday” in Ewe.
46. Yazeed — Arabic and Swahili for “becoming greater.”
47. Yeboah — In Akan, this name means “our helper.”
48. Yedidya — Hebrew for “beloved of the Lord.”
49. Yefim — This name means “fair speech” in Russian.
50. Yehochanan — A Hebrew name meaning “God is gracious.”
51. Yehonatan — Hebrew for “gift of Jehovah.”
52. Yehoyakim — In Hebrew, this name means “he will establish.”
53. Yeison — The origin and meaning of this name are unknown.
54. Yekutiel — Hebrew for “preservation of God.”
55. Yelisei — This name means “God is my salvation” in Italian and Spanish.
56. Yemelyan — Russian for “eager.”
57. Yenuk — The meaning and origin are unknown.
58. Yerachmiel — Hebrew for “may God have mercy.”
59. Yeray — A Spanish name meaning “big” or “grand.”
60. Yerfimiy — The origin and meaning are unknown.
61. Yermolai — Russian for “people of Hermes.”
62. Yesh — In Sanskrit, this name means “glory.”
63. Yevdokim — This name means “good” and “esteemed” in Russian.
64. Yevgeny — Russian for “well born” or “noble.”
65. Yezen — The meaning and origin of this name are unknown.
66. Yggdrasil — A Norse name meaning “Odin’s horse.”
67. Yh — This is a Chinese name, but its meaning is unknown.
68. Yianni — Greek for “God is gracious.”
69. Yiftach — A Hebrew name meaning “He opens.”
70. Yigit — Turkish for “valiant.”
71. Yiorgios — This name means “farmer” in Greek.
72. Yissakhar — Hebrew for “his reward will come.”
73. Yitzchok — In Yiddish, this name means “laughter.”
74. Ylli — An Albanian name meaning “star.”
75. Yngouf — This Scandinavian name means “warrior.”
76. Yngvi — Norse and German for “ancestor.”
77. Ynyr — A Welsh name meaning “honored one.”
78. Yoandri — This is a Spanish name whose meaning is unknown.
79. Yoav — Hebrew for “Praise Jehovah.”
80. Yohance — Hausa for “God’s gift.”
81. Yohane — In Swahili, this name means “God is gracious.”
82. Yojit — This name means “planner” in Hindi.
83. Yokshith — Sanskrit for “Lord Vishnu.”
84. Yolotl — Nahuatl for “heart” or “spirit.”
85. Yolotzin — This name means “beloved heart” in Nahuatl.
86. Yoma — This name has roots in Arabic and Spanish, but its exact meaning is unknown.
87. Yonaguska — Cherokee for “drowning bear.”
88. Yonal — The meaning and origin of this name are unknown.
89. Yoofi — In Ghanaian, this name means “born on Friday.”
90. Yorick — An English name meaning “from the yew estate.”
91. Yorkoo — Ghanaian for “born on Thursday.”
92. Yoshifumi — This name means “righteous sentence” in Japanese.
93. Yoshikazu — Japanese for “good luck” and “harmony.”
94. Yoshimitsu — In Japanese, this name means “beautiful light.”
95. Yossarian — A literary name created by author Joseph Heller. The meaning is unknown.
96. Yossi — Hebrew for “God shall add.”
97. Yosyp — A Ukrainian name meaning “He shall add.”
98. Younes — This name means “dove” in Hebrew.
99. Yovi — Hebrew for “praise Jehovah.”
100. Yrie — A Jamaican name meaning “positive and powerful.”
101. Yrjo — Finnish for “farmer.”
102. Ysai — This name means “salvation of the Lord” in Spanish.
103. Ysbrand — In German, this name means “iron sword.”
104. Ysidro — This name means “gift of Isis” in Greek.
105. Yudale — English for “yew tree valley.”
106. Yug — This name means “age” or “era” in Sanskrit.
107. Yugurten — In Berber, this name means “he overcame them.”
108. Yukio — Japanese for “snow boy.”
109. Yul — This name means “youthful” in Latin and “beyond the horizon” in Mongolian.
110. Yulian — A Russian name meaning “youthful.”
111. Yunay — This Indian name means “the son of Anjana.”
112. Yung — This name is Chinese, but its origin is unknown.
113. Yunus — Arabic and Hebrew for “dove.”
114. Yurem — This Arabic name means “exalted by God.”
115. Yusha — An Arabic name meaning “God is salvation.”
116. Yuta — German for “prosperity” or “riches.”
117. Yutaka — In Japanese, this name means “abundant.”
118. Yuuto — This name means “gentle person” in Japanese.
119. Yuv — A Sanskrit name meaning “young.”
120. Yuval — Hebrew for “stream.”
121. Yuvansh — This name means “young generation” in Sanskrit.
122. Yuvi — In Hebrew, this name means “stream.”
123. Yuvraj — This name means “young king” in Sanskrit and “prince” in Hindi.
124. Yuwen — A Chinese name whose meaning is unknown.
125. Yuze — Chinese for “rain” and Japanese for “hot water.”
126. Yuzuki — This name means “citrus fruit” in Japanese.
127. Yuzuru — In Japanese, this name means “allow” or “permit.”
128. Yvain — Welsh for “youth” or “well born.”
129. Yvan — A Russian name meaning “God is gracious.”
130. Yvo — This name means “yew wood” in French.
131. Yy — The meaning and origin are unknown.
Y names may not always be the first to come to mind, but their distinctiveness is exactly what makes them shine. We hope this list of boy names that start with Y helped you find a few new favorites to add to your shortlist as you look for the perfect name.
If you’d like more baby name inspiration, here are a few other helpful lists — or visit our full baby names hub for even more ideas.
