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Hebrew Names that Start With Y

Nameberry
By Nameberry
Updated Tue Oct 01 2024
  1. Yahir

    • Origin:

      Hebrew and Arabic

    • Meaning:

      "he will enlighten, he shines; to be visible, shining"

    • Description:

      This Hebrew and Arabic name hit the US Top 300 in 2004 via an unusual inspiration: A Mexican pop singer and telenovela star known simply as Yahir, who was himself named after a Brazilian soccer player. Possibly a variation of the Hebrew Jair the Arabic Zahir, Yahir has since declined since its peak in the 2000s, however, it does remain in the latter end of the US Top 1000.
  2. Yael

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "ibex"

    • Description:

      Yael is an Old Testament name often heard in Israel that could work well here: just remember that it's pronounced with two syllables...it is also spelled Ya'el. In the Bible she was a Kenite woman in the time of Deborah who killed the enemy general, Sisera.
  3. Yona

    • Origin:

      Cherokee or variation of Jonah, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "bear; dove"

    • Description:

      A name with a double animal connection via two distinct origins, one Native American and the other Hebrew and Biblical. Yona is rare in the US but not unknown: It was given to a dozen baby girls in 2021.
  4. Yael

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "ibex"

    • Description:

      A common unisex name in Israel, more properly written as Ya'el, Yael rose more than 200 places in 2023 to become one of the fastest-rising boys' names of the year in the US.
  5. Yasiel

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "whom God made"

    • Description:

      Yasiel is gaining a following thanks to superstar baseball player Yasiel Puig, a Cuban native who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Biblical Yasiel, which can also be spelled Jasiel, was a warrior in David's army. About 100 baby boys were given the name in both spellings in the U.S. last year, a number that is expected to rise.
  6. Yisrael

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "contender with God"

    • Description:

      The name given to Jacob/Yaacov after wrestling with God's angel, most often used without the initial Y.
  7. Yeshaya

    • Description:

      Yeshaya is a masculine name with Hebrew origins, serving as a variant of Isaiah (Yesha'yahu in Hebrew). The name means "salvation of God" or "God is salvation," reflecting its deeply religious roots. While less common than Isaiah in Western countries, Yeshaya maintains popularity particularly in Jewish communities, especially among Orthodox families. It carries the gravitas of its biblical connection to the major prophet Isaiah, who authored the Book of Isaiah in the Old Testament. The name combines spiritual significance with a distinctive sound, making it both meaningful and unique for parents seeking a name with religious heritage.

  8. Yadira

    • Origin:

      Spanish, meaning unknown

    • Description:

      Feminine name consistently popular in the Latino community.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. Yada

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "he knew"

    • Description:

      Anyone who ever saw "Seinfeld" wouldn't be able to resist adding a couple more "yada" 's. Also a bit too close to Yoda.
  12. Yoel

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "Jehovah is his God"

    • Description:

      The Hebrew version of Joel has a pleasant, almost jolly sound.
  13. Yehuda

    • Origin:

      Variation of Yehudah, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "to praise"

    • Description:

      This modernized version of Yehudah is the source of on popular choice Judah and is traditionally given to boys born at Chanukah — a Jewish festival of lights and rededication which is celebrated in the winter. Yehuda first appeared on the US Top 1000 in 200 and, as of 2023, it has ranked consistently since 2014. The Yehudah spelling has never ranked, while Judah is used six times more often than Yehuda.
  14. Yonah

    • Origin:

      Hebrew variation of Jonah

    • Meaning:

      "dove"

    • Description:

      This form of the stylish Old Testament name is too close to the feminine Yona.
  15. Yosef

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "Jehovah increases"

    • Description:

      A widely used Hebrew form of Joseph, with a sophisticated and continental air.
  16. Yaffa

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "beautiful"

    • Description:

      The Hebrew equivalent to the Yiddish Shayna, Yaffa is derived from the word yafe meaning "beautiful". Also written as Yafa, it is used as both a given name for girls and more generally as last name.
  17. Yaakov

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "supplanting"

    • Description:

      The original Hebrew form of Jacob is resurfacing in the US charts after a several-decade-long hiatus. The Old Testament figure is considered the founding father of the Jewish nation, whose twelve sons descended into the twelve tribes of Israel.
  18. Yakim

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "he will establish"

    • Description:

      One of many Hebrew Y names kept alive in Israel and in American religious communities.
  19. Yaron

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "he will sing"

    • Description:

      Most modern parents outside Israel would prefer Aaron.
  20. Yitzhak

    • Origin:

      Hebrew variation of Isaac

    • Description:

      Has taken on a musical tone via the great violinist, Itzhak Perlman.