Girl names that start with Y are not heard as often as names beginning with many other letters, which can make them especially memorable. You’ll find familiar choices such as Yara and Yasmin alongside names from languages and cultures around the world.

Each name includes a meaning or origin to give you more context as you compare your favorites. As you make a shortlist, try saying each one with your last name and thinking about the nicknames you might use.

Girl Names That Start With Y

The list is grouped by style so you can go straight to the types of names that interest you most. Some Japanese, Korean, and Chinese names can have different meanings depending on the characters used.

10 Popular Girl Names That Start With Y

In 2025, Yara ranked No. 507 among U.S. girl names, making it the highest-ranking name in this section.¹ The names below are listed alphabetically.

1. Yael — This is Hebrew for “ibex,” a type of animal.

2. Yamileth — An Arabic name meaning “beautiful.”

3. Yara — This name means “friend” or “helper” in Arabic.

4. Yareli — A modern Spanish-language name whose exact origin and meaning are uncertain.

5. Yaretzi — A modern name whose exact origin and meaning are uncertain.

6. Yasmin — A Persian name meaning “jasmine flower.”

7. Yuna — A Japanese and Korean name whose meaning varies depending on the characters used.

8. Yuvi — In Hebrew, this name means “stream.”

9. Yvette — French for “yew tree.”

10. Yvonne — This name means “yew wood” in French.

10 Familiar Girl Names That Start With Y

1. Yana — A Slavic name meaning “God is gracious.”

2. Yari — Spanish for “gold.”

3. Yelena — This name means “bright, shining one” in Russian.

4. Yennefer — A literary name best known from The Witcher series. Its meaning is uncertain.

5. Yesenia — In Spanish, this name means “floral.”

6. Yolanda — A Spanish name meaning “violet flower.”

7. Yomi — Japanese for “land of the dead.”

8. Yuki — This name means “snow” in Japanese.

9. Yuri — Japanese for “lily.”

10. Yvaine — A literary name associated with Neil Gaiman’s Stardust. Its exact meaning is uncertain.

10 Cute Girl Names That Start With Y

1. Yaiza — Spanish for “one who shares equally.”

2. Yarrow — This name means “rough stream” in English.

3. Yetta — A Yiddish name meaning “light.”

4. Yimmi — This name means “believes” in Choctaw.

5. Yohana — Hebrew for “God is gracious.”

6. Yoli — In Spanish, this name means “violet flower.”

7. Yona — A Hebrew name meaning “dove.”

8. Yoshi — A Japanese name meaning “good” or “respectful.”

9. Yuyu — This name means “gentle friend” or “dream friend” in Japanese.

10. Yzma — A fictional name from Disney’s The Emperor’s New Groove. Its meaning is uncertain.

10 Famous Girl Names That Start With Y

These names belong to actresses, writers, musicians, athletes, and other notable women.

1. Yalitza — Mexican actress Yalitza Aparicio bears this modern name, whose exact origin and meaning are uncertain.

2. Yamina — An Arabic name meaning “proper.” French director and writer Yamina Benguigui has this name.

3. Yasmine — Actress Yasmine Bleeth bears this Arabic form of Yasmin, meaning “jasmine.”

4. Yaya — Actress and model Yaya DaCosta bears this name. It is used in several cultures, and its meaning varies.

5. Yeardley — Actress Yeardley Smith, known as the voice of Lisa Simpson, bears this name. It comes from an English surname.

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6. Yoko — Artist and activist Yoko Ono bears this Japanese name, whose meaning varies by kanji.

7. Yulia — Russian singer Yulia Townsend bears this Russian form of Julia.

8. Yunjin — Actress Yunjin Kim bears this Korean name, whose meaning can vary depending on the hanja used.

9. Yuriko — In Japanese, this name means “lily child.” Yuriko Koike is the governor of Tokyo.

10. Yusra — An Arabic name meaning “prosperous.” Yusra Mardini is a Syrian Olympic swimmer.

10 Vintage Girl Names That Start With Y

1. Yadira — A Spanish-language name of uncertain meaning, possibly derived from Arabic.

2. Yalena — Greek and Russian for “bright, shining one.”

3. Yelaina — In Russian, this name means “shining light.”

4. Ynez — This name means “pure” or “virginal” in Spanish.

5. Yolande — Latin for “violet.”

6. Ysabel — A Spanish name meaning “pledged to God.”

7. Ysolde — Welsh and German for “ice ruler.”

8. Yudith — This name means “woman from Judea” in Russian.

9. Yuliana — In Russian, this name means “youthful” or “sky father.”

10. Yva — A Scandinavian name meaning “life.”

70 Unique Girl Names That Start With Y

1. Yaa — Akan for “born on a Thursday.”

2. Yaba — This name means “born on a Thursday” in Twi.

3. Yabella — A French name meaning “God is my oath.”

4. Yachna — This name means “pleading” or “prayer” in Sanskrit.

5. Yacinta — Italian for “hyacinth.”

6. Yacova — A Hebrew name meaning “supplanting.”

7. Yaen — This name means “ostrich” in Hebrew.

8. Yaffa — Hebrew for “beautiful.”

9. Yahia — An Arabic name meaning “Yahweh is merciful.”

10. Yale — This name means “fertile upland” in Welsh.

11. Yalinda — Greek and Spanish for “violet flower.”

12. Yamaris — This name means “wished for a child” or “star of the sea” in Hebrew.

13. Yamini — An Arabic name meaning “right” or “proper.”

14. Yancy — This name means “son of Jan” in English. It’s also a Native American name meaning “Yankee.”

15. Yanet — A Slavic name meaning “God is gracious.”

16. Yang — Chinese for “ocean” or “light.”

17. Yanis — In Hebrew, this name means “gift of God.”

18. Yanka — A Bulgarian name meaning “God is gracious.”

19. Yarisel — Spanish for “glorious and fierce.”

20. Yarmilla — This is a Slavic name for a merchant or trader.

21. Yasma — A Persian name meaning “jasmine flower.”

22. Yasmeen — This name also means “jasmine flower” in Persian.

23. Ya-Ting — Chinese for “elegant and graceful.”

24. Yawen — In Chinese, this name means “elegant cloud patterns.”

25. Yatziri — An invented Spanish name with an unknown origin.

26. Ye — Chinese for “leaf.”

27. Yeats — In English, this name means “gates.”

28. Yeesha — Arabic for “living” and Swahili for “prosperous.”

29. Yelda — An Arabic name meaning “dark night.”

30. Yelisabeta — Russian for “God is my oath.”

31. Yemaya — This name means “mother of fish” in Yoruba.

32. Yemima — Hebrew for “dove.”

33. Yen — A Vietnamese name meaning “calm” and “peaceful.”

34. Yerusha — In Hebrew, this name means “married” or “belonging to someone.”

35. Yeter — A Turkish name meaning “efficient.”

36. Yeshna — Urdu for “happiness.”

37. Yessica — This name means “God beholds” in Hebrew.

38. Yeva — Russian and Armenian for “life.”

39. Yewa — In Yoruba, this name means “virgin” or “pure.”

40. Yindi — A modern given name whose exact origin and meaning are uncertain.

41. Yionna — This Hungarian name means “sunray.”

42. Ylonda — This name means “violet flower” in Greek and Spanish.

43. Ymelda — Italian and Spanish for “all-consuming fight.”

44. Yoanna — Hebrew for “God is gracious.”

45. Yocelyn — This name means “member of the Gauts tribe” in German.

46. Yolani — A Hawaiian name meaning “hawk of royalty.”

47. Yolanthe — Latin for “purple.”

48. Yolette — This name means “violet flower” in Spanish.

49. Yonah — Hebrew for “dove.”

50. Yonca — A Turkish name meaning “clover.”

51. Yoona — A Korean name whose meaning varies depending on the hanja used.

52. Yordana — English for “flowing down.”

53. Yorleny — A Costa Rican name that means “yours, Lenny.”

54. Yosefa — This name means “Jehovah increases” in Hebrew.

55. Ysadora — Greek for “gift of Isis.”

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56. Ysla — In Spanish, this name means “island.”

57. Yudelle — A Teutonic name meaning “wealthy.”

58. Yudita — In Russian, this name means “woman from Judea.”

59. Yuette — French and German for “yew.”

60. Yuffie — A fictional name from Final Fantasy VII. Its origin and meaning are uncertain.

61. Yuina — A Japanese name meaning “to tie” or “to bind.”

62. Yukiko — Japanese for “snow child.”

63. Yule — This name means “winter solstice” in English.

64. Yuma — A given name and place name with multiple possible origins. No single meaning is established.

65. Yumi — In Japanese, this name means “archery bow.”

66. Yura — Russian for “farmer.”

67. Yustina — This name means “righteous” in Russian.

68. Yvana — Hebrew for “God’s gracious gift.”

69. Yveline — This name means “yew wood” in French.

70. Yvelise — A French name meaning “life.”

92 Rare Girl Names That Start With Y

1. Yaalisai — This name means “melodious” in Tamil.

2. Yaeko — Japanese for “multilayered child.”

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

4. Yahaira — Hebrew for “precious” or “dear.”

5. Yahaloma — This name means “diamond” in Hebrew.

6. Yahvi — In Sanskrit, this name means “heaven” or “earth.”

7. Yailin — A Spanish name meaning “God is most powerful.”

8. Yaling — This name means “elegant” and “tinkling like jade” in Chinese.

9. Yamila — Arabic for “beautiful.”

10. Yamuna — This name means “sacred river” in Sanskrit.

11. Yannica — Hebrew and Slavic for “God is gracious.”

12. Yanixia — This name means “pine thistle” in Greek and “God is gracious” in Hebrew.

13. Yaotl — In Nahuatl, this name means “warrior.”

14. Yaqoot — An Arabic name meaning “ruby, a precious stone.”

15. Yarely — A variant spelling of Yareli whose exact origin and meaning are uncertain.

16. Yaroslava — Russian for “fierce and glorious.”

17. Yaryna — This name means “peace” in Greek.

18. Yashika — In Sanskrit, this name means “success and fame.”

19. Yashodhara — Sanskrit for “renowned.”

20. Yashwina — This name means “glory” in Sanskrit.

21. Yasu — Japanese for “peaceful” or “flat.”

22. Yasuko — A Japanese name meaning “peaceful child.”

23. Yaxkin — In Mayan, this name means “first day.”

24. Yazmin — A rare spelling of the Persian name “Yasmin,” meaning “jasmine flower.”

25. Yehudit — This name means “to praise” in Hebrew.

26. Yeily — The meaning and origin of this name are unknown.

27. Yeimy — Hebrew for “supplanter.”

28. Yejide — In Yoruba, this name means “mother has awakened.”

29. Yekara — A Hebrew name meaning “dear” or “expensive.”

30. Yekaterina — Russian for “pure.”

31. Yemoja — In Yoruba, this name means “mother of fish.”

32. Yenta — Yiddish for “noble.”

33. Yeruti — This name means “dove” in Guarani.

34. Yesfir — A Russian name meaning “star.”

35. Yetunde — Yoruba for “mother returned.”

36. Yevgeniya — This name means “well-born” in Russian.

37. Yevka — A Hebrew name meaning “life.”

38. Yewubdar — This Amharic name means “beautiful beyond limits.”

39. Ygerna — A variant of Igraine, the name of King Arthur’s mother in medieval legend.

40. Ygritte — A literary name from George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series. Its meaning is uncertain.

41. Yides — In Hebrew, this name means “alive.”

42. Yiesha — Arabic for “living” and Swahili for “prosperous.”

43. Yihana — This name means “God is gracious” in Hebrew.

44. Yinuo — In Chinese, this name means “promise.”

45. Yisana — This name has an unknown origin and meaning.

46. Yiskah — A Hebrew name meaning “to behold.”

47. Yitty — Yiddish for “light.”

48. Yllona — A Hungarian name meaning “shining one.”

49. Yna — This Filipino name means “queen” or “pure.”

50. Ynocencia — Spanish for “innocence.”

51. Yocasta — This name means “cheerful” in Greek.

52. Yochana — In Hebrew, this name means “God is gracious.”

53. Yocheved — Hebrew for “God is glory.”

54. Yoela — A Hebrew name meaning “Jehovah is God.”

55. Yoi — This Japanese name has several meanings, including “dusk” and “joy.”

56. Yolaiza — Spanish for “violet flower.”

57. Yolihuali — This name means “source of life” in Nahuatl.

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

59. Yoloxochitl — In Nahuatl, this name means “heart” and “flower.”

60. Yon — The origin and meaning of this name are unknown.

61. Yoneko — A Japanese name meaning “rice child.”

62. Yonit — Hebrew for “dove.”

63. Yoshiko — A Japanese name that can mean “good child,” “fragrant child,” or “joyful child,” depending on the kanji used.

64. Yoshimi — Japanese for “good” and “beautiful.”

65. Yosleen — An Arabic name meaning “happiness.”

66. Youliya — Russian for “youthful.”

67. Young-Hee — A Korean name whose meaning varies depending on the hanja used.

68. Young-Mi — A Korean name whose meaning varies depending on the hanja used.

69. Yousra — An Arabic name meaning “prosperous.”

70. Yoya — Spanish for “glory.”

71. Yrie — A Jamaican name meaning “positive and powerful.”

72. Yrsa — This Scandinavian name means “she-bear.”

73. Ysabeau — French for “pledged to God.”

74. Ysanne — This name means “grace” in Hebrew.

75. Ysandre — In Italian, this name means “defending men.”

76. Ysapy — A Guarani name meaning “dew.”

77. Ysella — Cornish for “modest.”

78. Ysip — This Filipino name means “thinking.”

79. Yubaba — A fictional name from Spirited Away. It is not traditionally documented as a given name.

80. Yuberta — A German name meaning “brilliant.”

81. Yudelka — In Hebrew, this name means “praise.”

82. Yulduz — Uzbek for “star.”

83. Yulenka — A Russian name meaning “young.”

84. Yulonda — Spanish for “violet flower.”

85. Yunalesca — A fictional name from Final Fantasy X. Its origin and meaning are uncertain.

86. Yunhee — A Korean name whose meaning varies depending on the hanja used.

87. Yunuen — The origin and meaning of this name are unknown.

88. Yurani — Hindi for “light.”

89. Yuraq — This name means “white” in Quechua.

90. Yuridiana — This Russian name is a blend of “farmer” and “divine.”

91. Yuritzy — A modern name whose exact origin and meaning are uncertain.

92. Yuval — Hebrew for “stream.”

A Y name can feel familiar, unexpected, or somewhere in between. Keep your favorites nearby for a few days, say them aloud, and see which ones continue to feel right for your family.

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

• Cute Baby Girl Names
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• Old-Fashioned Baby Names for Boys and Girls
• Unique Baby Girl Names and Their Meanings
• Beautiful Rare Baby Girl Names
• Baby Names With Great Nicknames