Dog Names That Start With Y

Dog Names That Start With Y

Dog names that start with Y are few and far between, making this an especially unique initial with no names starting with Y making the Top 100 dog names.

Female dog names that start with Y that are currently trending on Nameberry include Yara, Yvette, and Yuna. Unique female dog names that start with Y include Yetta, Yadira, and Yola.

Male dog names that start with Y that are currently trending on Nameberry include Yves, Yoshi, and Yukio. Unique male dog names that start with Y include Yancy, York, and Yarrow.

RELATED:

Search dog names by letter

  1. Yara
    • Origin:

      Arabic, Persian, Brazilian, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "friend, helper; strength; water nymph; honeycomb"
    • Description:

      The multicultural Yara is a sweet but substantial choice that could make a more unusual take on Sara and also work in multiple languages Popular in Portugal, The Netherlands, and Switzerland, familiar in the UK and France, it entered the US Top 1000 in 2017 and has been climbing the charts ever since.
  2. 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.
  3. Yvette
    • Origin:

      French, feminine of Yves
    • Meaning:

      "yew tree"
    • Description:

      This French name has the elegance of other '-ette' names such as Colette and is a botanical name without being too obvious about it.
  4. Yvonne
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "yew wood"
    • Description:

      Peaking in the 1950s, Yvonne has now dropped out of the Top 1000 in 2003 and doesn't look set to return soon, although its rare Y initial might endear it to some. Yvaine, from Neil Gaiman's Stardust, has more modern appeal.
  5. Yuna
    • Origin:

      Japanese, Breton, Korean, Chinese
    • Description:

      An attractive, widely appealing, multicultural option. KPOP singer Yuna may be attracting some attention to her name.
  6. Yuri
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "lily"
    • Description:

      Most familiar to American ears as the Russian variation of George. Not recommended for a daughter.
  7. 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.
  8. Yaretzi
    • Origin:

      Nahuatl, Aztec
    • Meaning:

      "you will always be loved"
    • Description:

      This unusual name from the Nahuatl or Aztec language has one of the best meanings around. It sprang onto the US popularity list in 2006 and made a brief appearance in the Top 300 before sliding down a bit. It's popular in Mexico and with US Americans of Latino or Hispanic heritage, hitting on two big girl name trends in those communities: Ya- beginnings and -i endings.
  9. 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.
  10. Yuki
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "snow"
    • Description:

      An appealing Asian name with a nickname feel.
  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. Yui
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "superior garment"
    • Description:

      Very popular girls' name in Japan not quite as easy to transport westward as the also-popular Rin.
  13. 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.
  14. Yolanda
    • Origin:

      Spanish from Greek
    • Meaning:

      "violet flower"
    • Description:

      Bold and distinctive, Yolanda is a floral name that doesn't sound frilly or delicate. Ultimately deriving from the Greek words ioles meaning "violet" and anthos meaning "flower", it appears in a variety of forms internationally, including Jolanda, Jolanta, Iolanthe, Iolanta, Iolanda, and Jolana.
  15. Yadiel
    • Origin:

      Spanish variation of Yehudiel
    • Meaning:

      "God has heard"
    • Description:

      This name, which is the Spanish version of the Hebrew name of one of the archangels, Yehudiel, appeared on the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2008 and has been on and off the charts since. Angel-esque boy names ending in L are especially stylish right now, meaning we may see Yadiel continue to climb.
  16. 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.
  17. Yuji
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "relaxed and caring"
    • Description:

      Yuji is among the most common male names in Japan, in part due to its positive meaning. Americans may recognize it from the anime series Jujustu Kaisen as the name of the humanistic and compassionate protagonist.
  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. Yoni
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "gift of Jehovah"
    • Description:

      Short form of Yonatan heard throughout Israel.
  20. Yuki
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "snow"
    • Description:

      An appealing Japanese name with a nickname feel.