You will not find any boy names that start with Y in the US top-500 most popular names for boys. You have to look at the 570th most popular name, Yusuf before you find a name for boys starting with Y. After Yusuf, you will find the spelling alternative, Yosef, and then the name Yehuda. All three of these names are of Semitic origin as are most established boy names that start with Y in the US.
We wanted to curate a list of accessible appellations that start with Y for boys to present you with some solid options for boys born in the US today. Y names are few and far between but there are a handful of options that will translate well for American families today. If you’re looking for baby names that will give you that Y first initial, discover some excellent options for your son below!
Discover the Greatest Boy Names That Start With Y Below:
Yusuf
Yusuf is the Arabic variation of Joseph, a name meaning “Jehovah increases.” There are many different spelling variants including some that are favored by Jewish families. Yusef, Yosef, and Yousef are all mildly popular in the US today.
Yehuda
Yehuda is the purer, Hebrew form of the name Anglicized as Judah. This appellation of a biblical patriarch is given symbolically to boys born on Chanukah. The Hebrew name means “to praise.”
Yahir
Yahir is a Semitic name found both in Hebrew and Arabic traditions. The name means “he will enlighten.” Yahir is one of the boy names that start with Y to appear in the US top-1000 ranking at 880.
Yael
Yael first landed in the US top 1000 in 2007. The name is very common as a unisex option in Israel today where you will commonly see the spelling Ya’el. This accessible name means “to ascend.”
Yadiel
Yadiel is the Spanish variation of Yehudiel, meaning “God has heard.” This Spanish version of the Hebrew name of one of the archangels showed up on the US top-1000 for the first time in 2008.
Yakim
Yakim is a handsome appellation of Hebrew origin that means “he will establish.” It’s not terribly common in the US especially outside of religious communities. Like Yael, it’s a popular option in Israel today.
Yanai
The biblical husband of the queen of Sheba, Yanai is a top-50 name in Israel today and it originated in Aramaic. The beautiful-sounding name means “he will answer.”
Yannis
Yannis is the Greek form of the name John. It certainly sounds much more interesting. John is a name of Hebrew origin that means “God is gracious.”
Yarden
Yarden is the name that gives us Jordan, like Jordan, the name is used for both boys and girls. The Hebrew root of this name means “to flow down” or “to descend.”
Yardley
Yardley is a very handsome, unisex option that is a habitational surname-turned-given-name. While rare, it is totally accessible and has a lovely natural meaning in “wood clearing.”
Yasir
Yasir is only popular in England and not many other places with a majority speaking English. This Arabic classic means “wealthy” and “prosperous.” Not bad!
Yates
Yates is an English surname that’s being used as a given name for babies these days. It means “gate.” It’s one of the boy names that start with Y that we expect to become trendy in coming years.
Yew
Yew is a tree name that sounds identical to “you” which makes it a bit of a challenge for boys born in the US but not an impossible one. If you’re after a nature name, this could be the right choice for your son.
Yezivel
Yezivel is one of the rare boy names that start with Y which sounds really exotic. It is a spelling variant of the more common Jeziel and both Hebrew appellations mean “assembled by God.”
Yiorgos
Yiorgos is a Greek name that gives us George. Both names mean “farmer.” Yiorgos is a top-10 name in Greece today but it has gone virtually unused in the US. You can help change that!
Yoel
Yoel works well because it rhymes with the jolly name Noel. Yoel is a Hebrew form of the name Joel, both mean “Jehovah is his God.”
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Yolando
One of the few boy names that start with Y (and in general) to be a masculinization of a traditionally feminine name. Yolando comes from Yolanda which is claimed by both Greek and Spanish naming traditions. Both names mean “violet.”
Yonah
Yonah is simply another form of Jonah. This soft Hebrew name has a peaceful meaning in “dove.” It’s one of the boy names that start with y that we’d love to hear more of in the US.
Yoni
Yoni is a short form of Yonatan that you will hear plenty in modern Israel. This playful-sounding appellation means “gift of Jehovah.”
Yoram
An Old Testament Hebrew name, Yoram is more commonly seen as Joram today but both are rare in the US. The name means “exalted by God.”
Yorick
Yorick is an English habitational name that means “of the yew estate.” The name has literary cred even if that means it is fated to remain trapped forever as a skull in Hamlet.
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York
York is also an English name and cousin to Yorick. It’s the more streamlined form and one of our favorite boy names that start with Y. It too means “of the yew estate.”
Yotam
Fans of the Israeli-born British chef Yotam Ottolenghi will be familiar with this handsome appellation. Yotam is of Hebrew origin and means “the Lord is perfect.”
Yovi
Yovi is a diminutive form of Yoav, a Hebrew name that means “praise Jehovah.” It has the same appeal as a nickname and you would be wise to consider it among the great boy names that start with Y.
Yuma
One of the very few boy names that start with Y to originate in Native American Indian cultures, Yuma means “son of the chief.” To most, the name is evocative of the town of the same name in Arizona.
Yunus
Pronounced yoo-NOOS, Yunus is one of the boy names that start with Y which might give you some trouble. The name is of Semitic origin and it’s considered an Arabic form of Jonah. Both names mean “dove.”
Yvain
Yvain is a unisex name of Welsh origin and a form of Owain. The appellations mean “wealth” or “noble.”
Yuri
Yuri is a Russian form of George, meaning “farmer.” The name is popular in Russia and parts of Europe today. It has never been a widely used name in the US.
Yusha
Yusha is an Arabic name that means “God is salvation.” It is considered the Arabic counterpart of Joshua. It’s one of the boy names that start with Y that could definitely work for boys born in the US today.
Yves
Our favorite of the boy names that start with Y comes from France. Yves is a French name that means “yew wood.” The hangup with this name for English-speaking parents is that it sounds identical to the feminine name, Eve. We don’t foresee this name taking off in the US for this reason but we wish it would!
What did you think of these boy names that start with Y? We hope you found some great options to consider. There are only a limited amount of boy names that start with Y that are established in the US. You might want to broaden your horizons and go with a less conventional name from this list for more character and style. Happy baby name hunting!