This list includes 79 Male names that start with Y, from “Yaakov” to “Yves”. These names span many cultures and styles, useful for parents, writers, genealogists, and curious readers.
Male names that start with Y are given names beginning with the letter Y and often reflect varied linguistic traditions. For example, “Yaakov” appears in Hebrew tradition while “Yves” shows a classic French lineage.
Below you’ll find the table with [COLUMN_NAMES].
Name: The given name as commonly written, so you can scan entries and decide which ones interest you.
Origin: Explains the language or culture where the name originates, helping you understand context and cultural background.
Meaning: A short definition or literal meaning, so you can choose names with meanings that match your preferences.
Pronunciation: A simple phonetic guide to help you pronounce each name correctly when introducing or researching it.
Popularity: Notes about frequency or regional use, so you can gauge how common or rare a name is today.
Notable bearers: Brief examples of famous or historical people with the name, giving cultural or historical perspective you can explore.
Variants: Common spelling or form variants across languages, helping you find related names or alternative spellings you might prefer.
Male names that start with Y
| Name | Origin | Meaning | Popularity / Notable bearer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yaakov | Hebrew | Supplanter; heel | Biblical patriarch; basis for Jacob |
| Yacob | Amharic/Ethiopian | Supplanter; heel | Common in Ethiopia and Eritrea |
| Yakov | Russian/Yiddish | Supplanter | Common in Russia and Jewish communities |
| Yakub | Arabic/Turkic | Supplanter (Jacob) | Used across Muslim communities |
| Yakubu | Hausa/Nigerian | Jacob | Common in West Africa; politicians bear name |
| Yahya | Arabic | Alive; (equivalent to John) | Widespread in Muslim world |
| Yair | Hebrew | He will illuminate | Modern Israeli use; biblical presence |
| Yama | Sanskrit/Hindi | God of death; guardian | Mythological origin; used occasionally as name |
| Yamato | Japanese | Great harmony; ancient Japan | Culturally resonant in Japan |
| Yaman | Arabic/Turkish | Related to Yemen; fortunate | Used in Arabic and Turkish contexts |
| Yan | Slavic/Chinese | Varied: ‘John’ or many Chinese meanings | Common across Slavic and Chinese contexts |
| Yann | Breton/French | God is gracious (John) | Popular in Brittany/France |
| Yannis | Greek | God is gracious | Common in Greece; variant Giannis |
| Yanis | French/Algerian | God is gracious | Popular in France and North Africa |
| Yaniv | Hebrew | He will prosper | Used in Israel |
| Yarden | Hebrew | To descend; Jordan | Used in Israel as unisex name |
| Yaroslav | Slavic/Russian | Fierce and glorious | Historic princes (Yaroslav the Wise) |
| Yassin | Arabic | From Quranic chapter Ya-Sin | Common Muslim male name |
| Yasin | Arabic | Quranic name (Ya-Sin chapter) | Widely used across Muslim world |
| Yasir | Arabic | Rich; easy | Common Arabic male name |
| Yasser | Arabic | Wealthy; prosperous | Notable bearer: Yasser Arafat |
| Yash | Sanskrit/Hindi | Fame; glory | Very popular in India |
| Yashwant | Sanskrit/Hindi | Desiring fame | Traditional Indian male name |
| Yavuz | Turkish | Stern; resolute | Historic Ottoman association |
| Yale | Welsh/English | From the fertile slope | Used as given name in English |
| Yamir | Sanskrit/Hindi | Prince; moon (varies) | Used in South Asia |
| Yamil | Arabic/Spanish | Handsome; beautiful | Used in Latin America |
| Yancey | English | Surname-derived (unknown) | Rare U.S. given name |
| Yannick | Breton/French | Little Yann; God is gracious | Popular in France and Belgium |
| Yazid | Arabic | Increasing; to grow | Historical: Umayyad caliph Yazid I |
| Yegor | Russian | Farmer (from George) | Common in Russia |
| Yehuda | Hebrew | Praised | Biblical tribe and name |
| Yehoshua | Hebrew | YHWH is salvation | Formal Hebrew for Joshua |
| Yeshua | Hebrew/Aramaic | YHWH saves | Ancient form of Joshua/Jesus |
| Yitzhak | Hebrew | He will laugh | Hebrew form of Isaac |
| Yonatan | Hebrew | Gift of God | Common in Israel |
| Yoni | Hebrew | Gift of God (short form) | Popular nickname and given name |
| Yonah | Hebrew | Dove | Biblical name Jonah |
| Yoel | Hebrew | YHWH is God | Common Jewish male name |
| Yogesh | Sanskrit/Hindi | Lord of yoga; spiritual | Classical Indian male name |
| Yogev | Hebrew | Farmer | Modern Israeli male name |
| Yori | Japanese | Trust; reliable (varies) | Used in Japan in names |
| Yorick | Danish/English | Unknown (Old Norse roots) | Literary recognition from Hamlet |
| Yordan | Bulgarian/Slavic | To flow down; Jordan | Common in Bulgaria |
| Yosef | Hebrew | God will increase | Biblical Joseph; very widespread |
| Yosef (Yosef) | Hebrew | God will increase | Biblical Joseph; common in Jewish communities |
| Yusuf | Arabic/Turkic | God will increase | Widespread Muslim name |
| Youssef | Arabic/French | God will increase | Common North African transliteration |
| Yousuf | Arabic/South Asian | God will increase | Variant common in South Asia |
| Yuri | Slavic | Farmer; derived from George | Famous bearer: Yuri Gagarin |
| Yuriy | Ukrainian/Slavic | Farmer; noble | Common in Ukraine |
| Yul | Multiple (Korean/Russian) | Varies by culture | Notable bearer: actor Yul Brynner |
| Yukio | Japanese | Born of happiness; brave (varies) | Common male Japanese name |
| Yuki | Japanese | Snow; happiness (varies) | Unisex but commonly male in Japan |
| Yulian | Slavic/Latin | Youthful; Julian | Used in Bulgaria and Romania |
| Yunus | Arabic/Turkish | Dove (Jonah) | Common Muslim name |
| Yvan | French | God is gracious | French form of Ivan |
| Yves | French | Yew; archer | Famous bearer: Yves Saint Laurent |
| Yefim | Russian | Auspicious; well-spoken | Used historically in Russia |
| Yehia | Arabic/Egyptian | Alive; John (variant) | Egyptian and Arabic usage |
| Yazan | Arabic | Ancient Arab name; tribal leader | Popular Jordanian male name |
| Yasar | Turkish | He lives; living | Notable bearer: writer Yaşar Kemal |
| Yashar | Persian/Turkic | Lives long; honorable | Used in Persian and Turkish communities |
| Yeshayahu | Hebrew | YHWH is salvation | Biblical: Isaiah (Hebrew form) |
| Yehudi | Hebrew | Jew; Judean | Notable bearer: Yehudi Menuhin |
| Yoram | Hebrew | Yahweh is exalted | Biblical and Israeli usage |
| Yotam | Hebrew | YHWH is complete | Biblical name; used in Israel |
| Yevgeny | Russian | Well-born; noble | Common Russian male name |
| Yefrem | Russian/Hebrew | Fruitful | Slavic form of Ephraim |
| Yusuke | Japanese | Helper; assist (varies) | Common Japanese male name |
| Yuto | Japanese | Varies by kanji; common male name | Popular among younger Japanese men |
| Yuji | Japanese | Abundant second son; brave (varies) | Widely used male name in Japan |
| Yuval | Hebrew | Stream; brook | Popular Israeli male name |
| Yousri | Arabic/Egyptian | Ease; prosperity | Used in Egyptian Arabic |
| Yoshi | Japanese | Good luck; righteous | Diminutive of Yoshio; pop-culture usage |
| Yoshio | Japanese | Good man; righteous (varies) | Traditional Japanese male name |
| Yoshua | Hebrew/Spanish | YHWH is salvation | Spanish variant of Joshua |
| Ysidro | Spanish | Gift of Isis (Isidore) | Used historically in Spanish-speaking regions |
| Yacine | Arabic/French | From Ya‑Sin (Quranic chapter) | Common in francophone North Africa |
Descriptions
Yaakov
Traditional Hebrew form of Jacob; widely used in Jewish communities. Variants: Yakov, Ya’akov, Jakub. Often Anglicized as Jacob.
Yacob
Ethiopian form of Jacob/Yakov, frequent among Orthodox Christians. Also romanized Yaqob or Yakob.
Yakov
Slavic and Jewish form of Jacob; appears in literature and history. Varians: Yakov, Iakov.
Yakub
Arabic/Turkish form of Jacob/Yaʻqūb; many regional spellings and historical bearers.
Yakubu
Hausa and West African variant of Jacob; used by leaders and public figures.
Yahya
Arabic form of John; Quranic figure; many spellings (Yahya, Yehya).
Yair
Popular in Israel; short, contemporary-sounding Hebrew name. Variants: Yair, Jair.
Yama
Name of Hindu deity Yama; used in South Asia and sometimes Japan as masculine name.
Yamato
Evokes historic Yamato period; used as masculine given name with patriotic connotations.
Yaman
Male name meaning linked to Yemen or right/fortunate; appears in modern Arab usage.
Yan
Short masculine name in Slavic languages (John) and given name/surname in Chinese with various characters.
Yann
Breton form of John, common in France; related to Yannick.
Yannis
Modern Greek form of Ioannis; popular in Greece and diaspora. Often romanized Giannis or Yannis.
Yanis
French and Maghrebi form related to Yanis/Yanis; frequent among younger generations.
Yaniv
Modern Hebrew name meaning prosperity; common given name and occasionally surname.
Yarden
Originally refers to the Jordan River; used for boys and girls in Israel.
Yaroslav
Ancient Slavic name borne by medieval rulers; common in Eastern Europe in forms Jaroslav/Yaroslav.
Yassin
Quranic-derived name with many spellings: Yasin, Yaseen, Yassin; widely used across Muslim communities.
Yasin
Popular male name from the Qur’an; many regional transliterations.
Yasir
Widely used in Arab and Muslim-majority countries; several notable modern bearers.
Yasser
Variant of Yasir; common across the Arab world and diaspora.
Yash
Short, modern-sounding Indian male name; appears alone or as prefix (Yashpal, Yashwant).
Yashwant
Classical compound name used across India; slightly older-generation tone.
Yavuz
Common Turkish male name with a strong, historical flavor (e.g., Yavuz Sultan Selim).
Yale
Originally a Welsh surname (Iâl); adopted as a masculine given name in English contexts.
Yamir
Modern Indian male name with varied meanings across languages and sources.
Yamil
Hispanic form sometimes from Arabic Jamil; popular among Spanish-speaking communities.
Yancey
English surname-turned-given name (also spelled Yancy), used occasionally in the U.S.
Yannick
Diminutive of Yann; used widely across francophone countries; variants Yannic, Yanick.
Yazid
Arabic male name with historical resonance; used in parts of the Muslim world.
Yegor
Slavic form of George; frequently found in Russia and Eastern Europe.
Yehuda
Hebrew form of Judah; enduring Jewish male name, variant Yehudah.
Yehoshua
Ancient Hebrew form of Joshua; variant Yeshua used in Second Temple era.
Yeshua
Second Temple-period form of Joshua/Jesus; used in religious communities and as a modern given name.
Yitzhak
Biblical name Isaac in Hebrew; variants Itzhak (Itzhak Perlman).
Yonatan
Hebrew equivalent of Jonathan; nicknamed Yoni; widely used in Israeli society.
Yoni
Originally a diminutive of Yonatan or Yehonatan; used widely as standalone male name.
Yonah
Hebrew form of Jonah; historically male and used in Jewish contexts.
Yoel
Hebrew form of Joel; used in Jewish and Christian contexts.
Yogesh
Traditional Indian male name found across India; sometimes shortened to Yog.
Yogev
Contemporary Hebrew name meaning farmer; used in Israel.
Yori
Short Japanese masculine element or standalone name; romanization varies.
Yorick
Name popularized by Shakespeare; used in English and Dutch-speaking regions.
Yordan
Slavic form of Jordan; used widely in Bulgaria and neighboring countries.
Yosef
Hebrew form of Joseph; global usage across Jewish and Christian communities.
Yosef (Yosef)
Alternate transliteration; widely used across cultures.
Yusuf
Arabic form of Joseph; extremely common in Muslim-majority countries and diaspora.
Youssef
French-influenced spelling common in Maghreb and francophone communities.
Yousuf
South Asian transliteration of Yusuf; many spellings exist regionally.
Yuri
Popular male name across Russia, Ukraine and Eastern Europe; not to be confused with Japanese Yuri.
Yuriy
Ukrainian/Russian spelling variant of Yuri; widely used in Eastern Europe.
Yul
Short masculine name used in multiple cultures; sometimes stage or adopted name.
Yukio
Popular Japanese masculine name with meanings depending on kanji.
Yuki
Japanese name used for males and females; meaning depends on kanji choice.
Yulian
Slavic form of Julian; common in Eastern Europe with Latin roots.
Yunus
Arabic form of Jonah; venerated in Islamic tradition and popular across Muslim communities.
Yvan
Francophone variant of Ivan; used in France and French-speaking regions.
Yves
Classic French masculine name with Celtic origins (yew tree); elegant European usage.
Yefim
Slavic form of Euphemios; found in Russian historical records.
Yehia
Egyptian variant of Yahya/Yehya, common in North Africa and the Middle East.
Yazan
Modern Jordanian and Levantine masculine name with historical tribal roots.
Yasar
Turkish name (Yaşar) meaning “to live”; common surname and given name.
Yashar
Male given name in Iran and Turkey with honorable connotations.
Yeshayahu
Formal Hebrew form of Isaiah; used in religious and scholarly contexts.
Yehudi
Originally meaning “Jew,” used as male given name in the 20th century and earlier.
Yoram
Biblical name (Joram variant) used in Israel as a masculine given name.
Yotam
Hebrew form of Jotham; modern Israeli usage as Yotam.
Yevgeny
Russian form of Eugene; multiple transliteration variants like Yevgeniy.
Yefrem
Used historically among Orthodox Christians; Anglicized as Ephrem/Efrem.
Yusuke
Popular masculine name in Japan; meaning changes with kanji selection.
Yuto
Contemporary Japanese boy’s name; meanings vary by kanji, often positive qualities.
Yuji
Short Japanese masculine name with multiple kanji possibilities and meanings.
Yuval
Biblical name (Jubal/Jubal’s family); commonly used in modern Israel, spirited and naturalistic.
Yousri
Variant transliteration of Yusri/Yousri; male name in North African and Middle Eastern contexts.
Yoshi
Often a nickname for Yoshio/Yoshihiro; used standalone and in media franchises.
Yoshio
Classic masculine name in Japan; several kanji spellings with positive meanings.
Yoshua
Hispanic transliteration of Joshua; used across Spanish-speaking communities.
Ysidro
Spanish form of Isidro/Isidore; rare today but attested as male given name.
Yacine
French transliteration of Yasin/Yassin, widely used among Maghrebi communities.