​
​
Advanced Search

Boy Dog Names That Start With Y

Nameberry
By Nameberry
Updated Tue May 09 2023
  1. Yves

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "yew wood"

    • Description:

      On paper, with its stylish ties to fashion legend Yves Saint-Laurent (born Henri), Yves looks great, but the pronunciation--EVE-- could lead to gender confusion. German variation Ivo might be cooler and clear up the issue.
  2. Yarrow

    • Origin:

      Botanical name, English

    • Meaning:

      "rough stream"

    • Description:

      Highly unusual as a baby name for either gender, Yarrow is an herb that grows wild and has long been used for its medicinal property. It's named for the mythical Achilles, who was said to carry yarrow into battle.
  3. Yanis

    • Origin:

      Greek, French, from Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "gift of God"

    • Description:

      One of the relatives on the widely-branching family of John names, Yanis is in the French Top 50 and was a fast rising choice in the UK in 2022, when it went from being outside the Top 1000 to within the Top 700.
  4. Yannick

    • Origin:

      Breton

    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"

    • Description:

      Yannick originated as a diminutive of Yann, the Breton form of John. However, it has since become popular as a standalone name in its native region of Brittany, as well as in France as a whole, where it peaked at #31 in 1973-4. It remains well within the Top 500 in France to this day, and has also seen regular use in Belgium, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Quebec.
  5. Yancy

    • Origin:

      American variation of Jansen, Dutch, Native American

    • Meaning:

      "son of Jan; yankee"

    • Description:

      Yancy has two separate American origins — first as the Native American term for "Yankee," and second as the Americanized variation of the common Dutch surname Jansen. Jan being the Dutch form of John, Yancy could work to honor anyone in your life with a John-related name.
  6. Yusuf

    • Origin:

      Arabic variation of Joseph, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "Jehovah increases"

    • Description:

      Yusuf is the Arabic form of Joseph, used in the Middle East, as well as internationally from France and the US, to the UK, Turkey and Azerbaijan - where, as of 2023, it ranked in the Top 100.
  7. Yuri

    • Origin:

      Russian variation of George

    • Description:

      Common Russian name familiarized here via cosmonaut Yury Gagarin and a character in Dr. Zhivago, but we don't see it ever gaining permanent resident status.
  8. Yuta

    • Origin:

      Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "grief; gentle"

    • Description:

      Yuta Okkotsu is a major character in the anime series Jujutsu Kaisen. The kanji used in the Japanese manga give his name the meaning "grief," in reference to the loss of his dear childhood friend, Rika. In practice, men who bear this name use the kanji meaning "gentle."
  9. Yosef

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "Jehovah increases"

    • Description:

      A widely used Hebrew form of Joseph, with a sophisticated and continental air.
  10. Yuki

    • Origin:

      Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "snow; happiness"

    • Description:

      Short yet impactful, this Japanese name with has two appealing meanings, depending on which kanji are used. It may be associated with joy, or with a wintery scene.
  11. Yoshi

    • Origin:

      Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "good, respectful"

    • Description:

      A classic Japanese name known to kids around the world as a Nintendo video-game character.
  12. Yago

    • Description:

      Yago is a masculine name with Spanish and Portuguese origins, functioning as a variant of James (Santiago in Spanish). Derived ultimately from the Hebrew name Ya'akov (Jacob), meaning 'supplanter,' it has biblical connections to both the apostle James and the Old Testament patriarch Jacob. The name carries a distinctive sound with its smooth flow and strong ending. Particularly popular in Galicia, Spain, and in Portuguese-speaking countries, Yago offers cultural richness while remaining relatively uncommon in English-speaking regions. This gives it cross-cultural appeal with a touch of exoticism for international parents. The name's brevity and clear pronunciation make it accessible despite its relative rarity. Yago projects a vibrant, distinctive quality while connecting its bearer to ancient traditions and religious heritage.

  13. Yarden

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "to flow down, descend"

    • Description:

      The name from which Jordan arose, Yarden has a nice combination of river imagery and a sound connoting a garden. Like Jordan, used for both sexes.
  14. Yale

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "fertile upland"

    • Description:

      An appellation that couldn't be more Ivy League or sound less Welsh. The name of the University is taken from the surname of college benefactor Elihu Yale. In the movie Manhattan, Yale Pollack is the name of Woody Allen's best friend. The Hebrew Yael is not related.
  15. Yari

    • Origin:

      Spanish from Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "gold"

    • Description:

      Names that end in I are hot right now, but Yari has yet to be discovered. It's a unisex name more common among girls, perhaps due to its similarity to Yara.
  16. York

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "from the yew estate"

    • Description:

      Brisk, preppy York is an underused classic with the potential to really shine in the 21st century. It's most familiar as a place name — York is a city in England — and surname. New York City and State were named after the Duke of York.
  17. Yehonatan

    • Origin:

      Variation of Jonathan, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "gift of Jehovah"

    • Description:

      Jonathan variation that is common among Jewish baby boys in Israel.
  18. Yukio

    • Origin:

      Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "snow boy"

    • Description:

      In the Japanese culture, this name suggests a sense of independence and is one of the popular names for December babies.
  19. Yuichi

    • Origin:

      Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "brave first-born son"

    • Description:

      An auspicious name for a first-born son with Japanese heritage. Some may be familiar with the name Yuichi from the anime series Kanon.
  20. Yasuke

    • Origin:

      Japanese, meaning unknown

    • Description:

      Yasuke was the first African samurai in Japan, who served as a retainer under Oda Nobunaga. He arrived in Japan in 1579 with Portuguese Jesuits and Italian Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano. Nobunaga took a special interest in Yasuke, who joined his force.

Introducing the Nameberry App

Nameberry App
Find your perfect baby name together with our new mobile app.
  • Swipe through thousands of names with your partner
  • Names you match on are saved to your shared list
  • Get personalized recommendations that learn based on your and your partner's preferences
  • Partner with friends and family to find names you all love
  • Backed by Nameberry's 20 years of data around name preferences.
Sign up to be notified when the app launches and to receive a discount on full access.
Nameberry App Logo