Here you’ll find 20 Strong girl names that start with Y, organized from “Yael” to “Yvonne”. Many come from Hebrew, Arabic, Persian, and European roots and highlight bravery, leadership, or resilience. Use this list when choosing a baby name, naming a character, or finding a meaningful nickname.
Strong girl names that start with Y are female names beginning with Y that convey strength, leadership, or resilience. For example, “Yael” is a Hebrew name tied to a biblical heroine famous for brave, decisive action.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Pronunciation, Origin, Meaning, and Notes.
Name: Shows the name itself, so you can quickly scan options and compare spelling and style.
Pronunciation: Gives a simple pronunciation guide so you can say the name confidently and test how it sounds aloud.
Origin: Lists the language or culture of origin, helping you understand background and cultural connections for each name.
Meaning: Offers a concise meaning that highlights traits like strength, leadership, or resilience to help your decision.
Notes: Includes variants, famous bearers, and brief usage tips so you can see popularity and real-world examples.
You can also browse the full A–Z index to explore names from other letters.
Strong girl names that start with Y
Name
Pronunciation
Origin
Meaning
Yael
YAH-el
Hebrew (Israel)
ibex; courageous mountain climber
Ylva
YL-vah
Old Norse/Swedish (Scandinavia)
she‑wolf; fierce protector
Yrsa
UR-sah
Old Norse/Icelandic
she‑bear; strong leader
Yngvild
YNG-vild
Old Norse/Norwegian
Yngvi’s battle; contains ‘hild’ (battle)
Yvonne
ih-VON
French (France)
yew/archer; martial association
Yvette
ih-VET
French
yew; archer/warrior association
Yara
YAH-rah
Tupi (Brazil) & Arabic
river goddess; powerful water spirit (Tupi)
Yelena
yeh-LEH-nah
Russian/Slavic
torch; shining one (leadership light)
Yekaterina
yeh-kah-TEH-ree-nah
Russian
imperial power; leadership (via Catherine the Great)
Biblical heroine Yael who killed the general Sisera is a symbol of bravery and decisive action; variants Ya’ala, Yaelah.
Ylva
Old Norse name meaning “she‑wolf,” used across Scandinavia to suggest ferocity and loyalty; notable bearer: Swedish politician Ylva Johansson.
Yrsa
Legendary Norse queen Yrsa appears in sagas as a powerful figure; the name evokes bear-like strength and leadership; variant Ursa.
Yngvild
Ancient compound name with the battle element ‘hild’, common in Norway; connotes warrior heritage; modern variant Ingvild.
Yvonne
Feminine of Yves, from Germanic “iv” (yew) tied to archers and martial skill; historically linked to warrior craft; notable bearer: Yvonne De Carlo.
Yvette
Diminutive of Yvonne sharing the yew/archer root; popular in Francophone communities and evokes skilled strength; notable bearer: actress Yvette Mimieux.
Yara
From Tupi “Iara” (mythic river‑mother) signifying commanding, mythic power; also used in Arabic/Persian contexts; notable bearer: actress/activist Yara Shahidi.
Yelena
Russian form of Helen meaning “light/torch”; borne by Olympic champion Yelena Isinbayeva, linking the name to athletic strength and public achievement.
Yekaterina
Russian form of Catherine; etymology ‘pure’ but historically tied to Catherine the Great’s rule and leadership; variants: Ekaterina, Katerina.
Yulia
Slavic form of Julia; widely associated with strong public figures like Yulia Tymoshenko, suggesting political resilience; variants Yuliya, Julia.
Yusra
Arabic name meaning “ease” or “prosperity”; bearer Yusra Mardini, Syrian Olympic swimmer, exemplifies courage and resilience in adversity; variant Yosra.
Yoko
Japanese name (common readings vary) often meaning “sun child” or “ocean child”; notable bearer Yoko Ono, an enduring artist-activist associated with resilience and influence.
Yashodhara
Historic name of the Buddha’s wife meaning “bearer of fame/glory”; connotes dignity and endurance; variant Yasodhara.
Yalda
Named for the winter solstice festival symbolizing renewal and perseverance through hardship; used in Persian-speaking communities; notable bearer: journalist Yalda Hakim.
Yevgenia
Russian form of Eugenia meaning “well‑born”; borne by high-achieving athletes like Yevgenia Medvedeva, suggesting competitive strength; variants Evgenia, Yevgeniya.
Yseult
Medieval variant of Isolde from Tristan & Isolde legend; literary heroine depicted as resolute and bold; variants Isolde, Iseult.
Yamina
From Arabic root for “right,” implying strength, blessing, and social honor; used in North Africa; notable bearer: French politician Yamina Benguigui.
Yemoja
Name of a powerful Yoruba sea goddess (Yemoja/Yemaya), used as a given name in Afro‑diasporic communities to evoke maternal power and protection; variant Yemaya.
Yodit
Name of the 10th‑century queen Gudit/Yodit who led uprisings in Ethiopia; evokes rebellion and strong female rule; variant Gudit.
Yewande
Yoruba name signifying renewal and maternal strength; modern bearers include author Yewande Omotoso, reflecting creative resilience.
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