This list includes 39 American boy names that start with Y, from “Yacob” to “Yves”. They cover biblical, international, and modern U.S. usages, mixing familiar and uncommon options. Use this list for baby naming, family research, or quick reference.

American boy names that start with Y are masculine given names used in the United States. Several come from biblical or international origins, while others are modern American variants. Notable examples include “Yves”, a French name that appears in U.S. records.

Below you’ll find the table with Name, Pronunciation, Origin/Meaning, and Source.

Name: The given name itself, shown so you can scan options and pick favorites quickly.

Pronunciation: A simple phonetic guide helps you say the name correctly and share it with family.

Origin/Meaning: One-line origin or meaning gives cultural context and helps you evaluate a name’s background.

Source: Short citation shows where the name appears in U.S. records or baby-name data, aiding trust.

American boy names that start with Y

Name Pronunciation Origin/Meaning U.S. Popularity (most recent SSA rank or count) Description
Yacob YAH-kob Hebrew form of Jacob; “holder of the heel” unranked — found on BabyCenter Used by some U.S. families as a variant of Jacob; appears in U.S. name sites and community records.
Yadiel yah-DEE-el Likely modern Hispanic/Spanish-influenced name; meaning varies unranked — listed on BabyCenter Popular among some Latino parents in the U.S.; appears on U.S. parenting name lists.
Yahir yah-HEER Possibly Spanish-influence; linked to Hebrew or Arabic roots unranked — listed on BabyCenter/Nameberry Well-known in Latinx communities; frequent in U.S. baby-name databases and social usage.
Yahya yah-HY-ah Arabic form of “John”; “God is gracious” unranked — found on BabyCenter/Nameberry Common among Muslim families in the U.S.; appears on U.S. parenting and community name lists.
Yair YAH-eer Hebrew; “he will enlighten” or “he will illuminate” unranked — found on Nameberry and Jewish community records Used in American Jewish communities and on U.S. name sites as a concise Hebrew choice.
Yakov YAH-kov Slavic/Hebrew form of Jacob; “holder of the heel” unranked — recorded in U.S. Census/name databases Seen among Jewish and immigrant families in the U.S.; variant of Jacob.
Yale YAYL Old Welsh/English surname-turned-name; possibly “fertile upland” unranked — found in U.S. Census historical records Longstanding given name in English-speaking U.S. usage; evokes Yale University for many Americans.
Yancey YAN-see English surname given name; possibly from “Yankee” or Welsh roots unranked — present in U.S. Census and historical records Used occasionally as a masculine given name in the U.S.; vintage/surname style.
Yarden yar-DEN Hebrew; “from the Jordan (river)” unranked — listed on Jewish name lists and BabyCenter Adopted by some American parents, especially Jewish families; a modern-sounding nature name.
Yaron YAH-ron Hebrew; “he will sing” or “singing” unranked — found in Jewish community records and Nameberry Common in Israeli-origin families in the U.S.; familiar to those with Hebrew roots.
Yasin yah-SEEN Arabic name derived from Quranic chapter; often linked to Arabic roots unranked — listed on BabyCenter/Nameberry Popular among Muslim families in the U.S.; several spelling variants exist.
Yassin yah-SEEN Variant spelling of Yasin; Arabic Quranic name unranked — found on BabyCenter and community name lists Alternate spelling used in U.S. Muslim communities; multiple transliterations.
Yasir yah-SEER Arabic; “wealthy” or “rich” / also “easy” interpretations unranked — listed on BabyCenter/Nameberry Used by Muslim and Arabic-speaking families in the U.S.; seen in parenting databases.
Yazan YAH-zahn Arabic; “to write” or regional Levantine name unranked — appears on U.S. baby-name sites Gaining use among Arab-American parents; appears on U.S. parenting name lists.
Yazid yah-ZEED Arabic; “to increase” unranked — found on BabyCenter/Nameberry Traditional Arabic name used by some U.S. families; multiple historic associations.
Yedidiah ye-di-DEE-ah Hebrew; “beloved of the Lord” unranked — present on Jewish name resources and Nameberry Classical Hebrew name used by some American Jewish families; long, biblical style.
Yehuda yeh-HOO-dah Hebrew form of Judah; “praised” unranked — found in U.S. Census and Jewish community records Widely used in American Jewish communities; traditional biblical name.
Yeshua yeh-SHOO-ah Aramaic/Hebrew form of Jesus; “salvation” unranked — found in U.S. religious/community records Used in some Christian and Hispanic communities in the U.S.; historic biblical form.
Yitzhak yeetz-HAHK Hebrew form of Isaac; “he will laugh” unranked — recorded in Jewish community records and name sites Traditional Jewish name seen among U.S. families with Hebrew naming traditions.
Yoni YOH-nee Diminutive of Yonatan/Yosef in Hebrew; “God has given” unranked — listed on Nameberry/BabyCenter Used as a standalone name in American Jewish and Israeli-American communities.
Yonatan yo-NAH-tahn Hebrew form of Jonathan; “Yahweh has given” unranked — found on Jewish name lists and Nameberry Hebrew variant used by families seeking a direct Hebrew form of Jonathan.
Yoel yoh-EL Hebrew form of Joel; “Yahweh is God” unranked — common on Jewish name lists and BabyCenter Popular in American Jewish communities; appears on U.S. parenting databases.
Yosef yo-SEF Hebrew form of Joseph; “He will add” unranked — widely listed on Nameberry/BabyCenter and community records Frequently used by Jewish and many immigrant families in the U.S.; multiple spellings exist.
Youssef yoose-EF Arabic/French spelling of Yusuf; “God will increase” unranked — found on U.S. parenting sites and community lists Variant commonly used by Arabic-speaking Americans and in francophone immigrant families.
Yusuf YOO-soof Arabic form of Joseph; “God will increase” unranked — listed on BabyCenter/Nameberry and community data Widely used among Muslim and Arabic-descent families in the U.S.; several spelling variants.
Yusef yoo-SEF Alternate spelling of Yusuf/Youssef; “God will increase” unranked — appears on U.S. baby-name sites and community records Common variant in U.S. communities with Arabic or Muslim heritage.
Yuri YOO-ree or YOO-ree Slavic form of George; also Japanese given name unranked — present in U.S. Census and BabyCenter Internationally used; appears among Russian, Ukrainian and other communities in the U.S.
Yvan ee-VAHN or ee-VAN French form of Ivan/John; “God is gracious” unranked — found on Nameberry and U.S. name lists Chosen by some U.S. parents seeking a French-flavored Y name.
Yves EEV French name from Ivo; “yew” or “archer” unranked — recorded in U.S. Census and name lists French masculine name used occasionally by American families; concise and classic.
Yash YAHSH Sanskrit/Hindi; “fame, glory” unranked — listed on BabyCenter and Indian-American name lists Popular among Indian-American families in the U.S.; short, modern-sounding.
Yuvan yoo-VAHN Sanskrit-influenced modern name; “youthful” connotations unranked — found on BabyCenter/Indian-American name lists Increasingly used by South Asian families in the U.S.; contemporary choice.
Yamil yah-MEEL Arabic/Spanish-Antillean name; used in Puerto Rico and Latino communities unranked — appears on BabyCenter and U.S. name lists Familiar in Latino communities in the U.S.; often spelled Yamil or Yamile.
Yandel yan-DEL Modern stage/given name from Puerto Rican usage unranked — seen in U.S. entertainment and name sites Recognized from Puerto Rican music culture; used occasionally as a given name.
Yan YAHN or YAN East Slavic or Chinese-origin short name; multiple origins unranked — present in U.S. Census and BabyCenter International name used by immigrant families; short, global-friendly form.
Yohan yoh-HAN Variant of Johan/John; used in multiple languages unranked — listed on BabyCenter and Nameberry Used by families seeking a European-sounding Y name; appears in U.S. baby-name resources.
Yohannes yo-HAH-ness Ethiopian/Amharic form of John unranked — found in U.S. Census and Ethiopian-American community records Common in Ethiopian-American communities in the U.S.; biblically rooted.
Yoan yo-AHN Breton/Spanish variant of John; international form unranked — appears on BabyCenter/Nameberry Adopted by some U.S. parents looking for an uncommon John variant.
Yonel yo-NEL Diminutive/variant of Yonatan or Lionel used in some communities unranked — recorded on U.S. name sites and community lists Rare but used in U.S. Hispanic and Jewish communities as a distinctive Y name.
Yafet yah-FET Hebrew form of Japheth; biblical name meaning uncertain unranked — found in Jewish community records and Nameberry Traditional biblical name seen among some American Jewish families.

Descriptions

Yacob
Yadiel
Yahir
Yahya
Yair
Yakov
Yale
Yancey
Yarden
Yaron
Yasin
Yassin
Yasir
Yazan
Yazid
Yedidiah
Yehuda
Yeshua
Yitzhak
Yoni
Yonatan
Yoel
Yosef
Youssef
Yusuf
Yusef
Yuri
Yvan
Yves
Yash
Yuvan
Yamil
Yandel
Yan
Yohan
Yohannes
Yoan
Yonel
Yafet
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