Finding baby boy names that start with Y can take a little more searching, which makes this list especially useful. You’ll find familiar choices such as Yusuf, Yosef, and Yaakov, along with names you may be seeing for the first time.

Each name includes a meaning or origin to give you more context as you make a shortlist. As you read, notice which names sound natural with your last name and which ones you want to come back to later.

Boy Names That Start With Y

The names are alphabetized within each section, making it easier to compare the ones that catch your attention.

8 Popular Boy Names That Start With Y

According to 2025 data from the Social Security Administration, these Y boy names ranked in the U.S. top 1,000. They are listed alphabetically, not by rank.¹

1. Yadiel — A Spanish-language name with Hebrew roots, often interpreted as “God has heard.”

2. Yahir — A Hebrew name meaning “he will shine” or “he will give light.”

3. Yahya — The Arabic form of Yochanan, or John.

4. Yehuda — A Hebrew name meaning “praised.”

5. Yisroel — A Yiddish form of Yisrael, often interpreted as “one who struggles with God.”

6. Yosef — The Hebrew form of Joseph, meaning “he will add.”

7. Yousef — An Arabic form of Joseph.

8. Yusuf — The Arabic form of Joseph.

13 Established Boy Names That Start With Y

1. Yaakov — A Hebrew form of Jacob, meaning “supplanter.”

2. Yacob — Hebrew for “supplanter.”

3. Yael — A Hebrew name meaning “ibex.” Traditionally masculine in Hebrew, though also used for girls.

4. Yarrow — English for “rough stream.”

5. Yasin — An Arabic name formed from the Quranic letters ya and sin; its exact meaning is uncertain.

6. Yasir — This name means “wealthy” or “prosperous” in Arabic.

7. Yasuke — A Japanese name whose meaning is unknown.

8. Yeshua — Hebrew for “the Lord is my salvation.”

9. Yoel — In Hebrew, this name means “Jehovah is his God.”

10. Yohan — A form of John used in French and several other languages, meaning “God is gracious.”

11. Yoshi — A Japanese name that may mean “good luck,” “righteous,” or “virtuous,” depending on the kanji used.

12. Yuri — An East Slavic form of George.

13. Yves — French for “yew wood.”

84 Distinctive Boy Names That Start With Y

1. Yaatiesh — In Sanskrit, this name means “Lord of devotees.”

2. Yadavendra — This name means “Lord Krishna” in Sanskrit.

3. Yafeal — This name means “beautiful” in Hebrew.

4. Yafet — This Hebrew name also means “beautiful.”

5. Yagmur — A Turkish name meaning “rain.”

6. Yagnesh — In Hindi, this name means “religious leader.”

7. Yahiko — Japanese for “increasing boy.”

8. Yair — In Hebrew, this name means “he shines.”

9. Yajnadhar — This name means “Lord Vishnu” in Sanskrit.

10. Yajur — Sanskrit for “one who sacrifices.”

11. Yale — Welsh for “fertile upland.”

12. Yam — In Hebrew, this name means “sea.”

13. Yama — This name means “mountain” in Japanese.

14. Yaman — Turkish for “strong” or “stalwart.”

15. Yamen — This name means “right hand” in Hebrew.

16. Yanai — An Aramaic name meaning “he will answer.”

17. Yanal — Arabic for “gift from God” or “obtain.”

18. Yang — A Chinese name that may mean “ocean,” “light,” or “sun,” depending on the characters used.

19. Yaniel — In Hebrew, this name means “God is my judge.”

20. Yanis — A Greek and French form related to John, meaning “God is gracious.”

21. Yann — This name means “God is gracious” in French.

22. Yannai — An Aramaic name meaning “he will answer.”

23. Yannig — A Breton name meaning “God is gracious.”

24. Yannou — This Breton name also means “God is gracious.”

25. Yantz — German for “God is gracious.”

26. Yao — Ewe for “born on Thursday.”

27. Yapheth — In Hebrew, this name means “handsome” or “to extend.”

28. Yared — Hebrew for “descent.”

29. Yarik — Russian for “fierce and glorious.”

30. Yaron — In Hebrew, this name means “he will sing.”

31. Yas — A Navajo word meaning “snow.”

32. Yash — Sanskrit for “glory” or “success.”

33. Yasha — A Russian diminutive of Yakov, or Jacob.

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34. Yassine — An Arabic variant of Yasin; its exact meaning is uncertain.

35. Yates — English for “gate.”

36. Yaw — An Akan day name traditionally given to a boy born on Thursday.

37. Yeardley — In English, this name means “wood clearing.”

38. Yedidia — Hebrew for “beloved of the Lord.”

39. Yefrem — A Russian form of Ephraim, meaning “fruitful.”

40. Yegor — A Russian form of George.

41. Ye-Jun — A Korean name whose meaning depends on the hanja used.

42. Yeong-Cheol — A Korean name often formed from hanja meaning “eternal” and “wise”; other combinations are possible.

43. Yeong-Gi — A Korean name often formed from hanja meaning “glory” and “rise”; other combinations are possible.

44. Yeong-Ho — A Korean name whose meaning depends on the hanja used.

45. Yeong-Hwan — A Korean name often formed from hanja meaning “eternal” and “shining”; other combinations are possible.

46. Yeong-Su — A Korean name often formed from hanja meaning “eternal” and “long life”; other combinations are possible.

47. Yeremiah — This name means “appointed by God” in Hebrew.

48. Yerrappa — A Telugu name meaning “red man.”

49. Yeruslan — This name means “lion” in Russian.

50. Yew — An English botanical word name referring to the evergreen tree.

51. Ygor — A variant spelling of Igor, a name with Old Norse roots.

52. Yi — A Chinese name that may mean “resolute,” “justice,” “benefit,” or “harmony,” depending on the character used.

53. Yirmeyahu — Hebrew for “God has uplifted.”

54. Yishmeray — This name means “He guards me” in Hebrew.

55. Yisrael — A Hebrew name often interpreted as “one who struggles with God.”

56. Yissachar — A Hebrew form of Issachar, often interpreted as “there is reward.”

57. Yitro — In Hebrew, this name means “abundance” or “plenty.”

58. Ymir — A figure in Norse mythology; the name’s original meaning is uncertain.

59. Yoan — A form of John used in several European languages, meaning “God is gracious.”

60. Yochanan — A Hebrew name meaning “God is gracious.”

61. Yogi — Sanskrit for “one who practices yoga.”

62. Yohannes — The Amharic form of John.

63. Yolando — Spanish for “violet.”

64. Yonah — This name means “dove” in Hebrew.

65. Yonas — The Amharic and Tigrinya form of Jonah.

66. Yonathan — This name means “God has given” in Hebrew.

67. Yoni — A Hebrew diminutive of Yonatan, a name meaning “God has given.”

68. Yoon — A Korean name whose meaning depends on the hanja used.

69. Yoram — In Hebrew, this name means “exalted by God.”

70. Yordanis — A modern form related to Jordan, meaning “to flow down.”

71. Yoshiro — A Japanese name whose meaning depends on the kanji used.

72. Yotam — This name means “the Lord is perfect” in Hebrew.

73. Youman — An English surname name related to the word yeoman.

74. Young — An English surname name originally used to distinguish a younger family member.

75. Yrian — An Old Swedish form of Jurian, a name related to George.

76. Ysmael — A Spanish form of Ismael, ultimately meaning “God will hear.”

77. Yuddha — In Sanskrit, this name means “war.”

78. Yuji — A Japanese name whose meaning depends on the kanji used.

79. Yuki — A Japanese name that may mean “happiness” or “snow,” depending on the kanji used.

80. Yule — In English, this name means “winter solstice.”

81. Yun — A Chinese name that may mean “cloud” or “allow,” depending on the character used.

82. Yunis — An Arabic variant of Yunus, or Jonah.

83. Yun-Seo — A Korean name often formed from hanja meaning “govern” or “allow” and “sequence”; other combinations are possible.

84. Ywain — A medieval form related to Yvain and the Welsh name Owain.

99 Rare Boy Names That Start With Y

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. Yago — A Spanish form of James.

9. Yahaziel — This name means “God sees” in Hebrew.

10. Yahye — An Arabic name meaning “God is gracious.”

11. Yajush — Sanskrit for “observer of religious ceremonies.”

12. Yakup — A Turkish name meaning “supplanter.”

13. Yamac — Turkish for “hillside.”

14. Yamikani — This name means “be grateful” or “praise” in Chewa.

15. Yaniv — In Hebrew, this name means “he will prosper.”

16. Yanlin — Chinese for “swallow forest.”

17. Yannakis — This name means “God is gracious” in Greek.

18. Yannick — A Breton name meaning “God is gracious.”

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19. Yannuel — In Hebrew, this name means “God is with us.”

20. Yaotzin — This name means “the enemy” in Nahuatl.

21. Yaphet — Hebrew for “handsome.”

22. Yaqub — A Hebrew name meaning “he who supplants.”

23. Yarden — In Hebrew, this name means “to flow down” or “descend.”

24. Yardley — English for “wood clearing.”

25. Yarilo — The Slavic god of fertility, vegetation, and springtime.

26. Yaropolk — A Slavic name meaning “fierce host.”

27. Yaroslav — Russian for “fierce and glorious.”

28. Yarovit — This is the name of the Slavic god of war.

29. Yaseen — An Arabic variant of Yasin; its exact meaning is uncertain.

30. Yashank — This name means “happiness” or “Lord Shiva” in Sanskrit.

31. Yavuz — A Turkish name meaning “resolute” or “grim.”

32. Yawo — This name means “born on Thursday” in Ewe.

33. Yazeed — An Arabic name meaning “to increase” or “to grow.”

34. Yeboah — In Akan, this name means “our helper.”

35. Yedidya — Hebrew for “beloved of the Lord.”

36. Yefim — A Russian form of Euthymius, ultimately meaning “well-spoken.”

37. Yehochanan — A Hebrew name meaning “God is gracious.”

38. Yehonatan — A Hebrew name meaning “God has given.”

39. Yehoyakim — A Hebrew name meaning “God will establish.”

40. Yekutiel — Hebrew for “preservation of God.”

41. Yelisei — A Russian form of Elisha.

42. Yemelyan — A Russian form of Aemilianus, an ancient Roman family name.

43. Yerachmiel — Hebrew for “may God have mercy.”

44. Yeray — A Spanish name meaning “big” or “grand.”

45. Yermolai — Russian for “people of Hermes.”

46. Yesh — In Sanskrit, this name means “glory.”

47. Yevdokim — A Russian form of a Greek name meaning “well regarded.”

48. Yevgeny — Russian for “well born” or “noble.”

49. Yianni — Greek for “God is gracious.”

50. Yiftach — A Hebrew name meaning “He opens.”

51. Yigit — Turkish for “valiant.”

52. Yiorgios — A Greek form of George, meaning “farmer.”

53. Yissakhar — A Hebrew form of Issachar, often interpreted as “there is reward.”

54. Yitzchok — A Yiddish form of Isaac, meaning “he will laugh.”

55. Ylli — An Albanian name meaning “star.”

56. Yngvi — An Old Norse name associated with the god Freyr; its original meaning is uncertain.

57. Ynyr — A Welsh name meaning “honored one.”

58. Yoav — Hebrew for “Praise Jehovah.”

59. Yohance — A rare African American masculine name often said to mean “God’s gift”; its exact origin is uncertain.

60. Yohane — In Swahili, this name means “God is gracious.”

61. Yojit — This name means “planner” in Hindi.

62. Yokshith — Sanskrit for “Lord Vishnu.”

63. Yolotl — Nahuatl for “heart” or “spirit.”

64. Yolotzin — This name means “beloved heart” in Nahuatl.

65. Yoofi — An Akan day name traditionally given to a boy born on Friday.

66. Yorick — A literary English form related to George.

67. Yoshifumi — A Japanese name whose meaning depends on the kanji used.

68. Yoshikazu — A Japanese name whose meaning depends on the kanji used.

69. Yoshimitsu — A Japanese name that may combine elements meaning “righteous,” “beautiful,” or “good luck” with “light”; other kanji combinations are possible.

70. Yossarian — A literary name created by author Joseph Heller. The meaning is unknown.

71. Yossi — Hebrew for “God shall add.”

72. Yosyp — A Ukrainian name meaning “He shall add.”

73. Younes — An Arabic form of Jonah.

74. Yovi — A Hebrew diminutive of Yoav.

75. Yrjö — The Finnish form of George.

76. Ysai — A Spanish form of Isaiah, meaning “God is salvation.”

77. Ysbrand — In German, this name means “iron sword.”

78. Ysidro — A Spanish form of Isidore, ultimately meaning “gift of Isis.”

79. Yudale — An English surname name related to Yewdall.

80. Yug — This name means “age” or “era” in Sanskrit.

81. Yukio — A Japanese name whose meaning depends on the kanji used.

82. Yul — A Russian diminutive of Yuliy.

83. Yulian — A Russian, Bulgarian, and Ukrainian form of Julian.

84. Yunay — This Indian name means “the son of Anjana.”

85. Yunus — An Arabic and Turkish form of Jonah.

86. Yusha — An Arabic name meaning “God is salvation.”

87. Yuta — A Japanese name whose meaning depends on the kanji used.

88. Yutaka — A Japanese name that may mean “bountiful” or “abundant,” depending on the kanji used.

89. Yuuto — A Japanese name whose meaning depends on the kanji used.

90. Yuv — A modern nickname associated with Yuval.

91. Yuval — Hebrew for “stream.”

92. Yuvansh — This name means “young generation” in Sanskrit.

93. Yuvi — A Hebrew diminutive related to Yuval, meaning “stream.”

94. Yuvraj — This name means “young king” in Sanskrit and “prince” in Hindi.

95. Yuze — A Chinese name often formed from characters meaning “universe” and “grace” or “brilliance”; other combinations are possible.

96. Yuzuru — A Japanese name that may mean “allow,” “permit,” or “yield,” depending on the kanji used.

97. Yvain — A medieval French form related to the Welsh name Owain.

98. Yvan — A French form of Ivan.

99. Yvo — A Dutch and German form of Ivo.

A Y name can sound different once you picture using it every day. Say your favorites with your last name, consider the nicknames that may come naturally, and give your shortlist a little time before deciding which names still feel right.

For more ideas, visit our baby names hub or continue with the related name lists below.

• Unique Baby Boy Names and Their Meanings
• Rare Baby Boy Names
• Hebrew Baby Names for Girls and Boys
• Baby Names With Great Nicknames