Yahya

Yahya is an Islamic name derived from the Hebrew Yochanan, making it both an honor for the prophet John the Baptist, and one of many international forms of John. In Islamic tradition, Yahya is celebrated for his gentleness, his goodness, and his dedication to and understanding of scriptures from a young age.
Currently popular in Tunisia, and Belgium, Yahya has also been on and off of the US Top 1000 charts since 2015. In a recent year, however, it was one of the fastest rising names, climbing 175 places and given to nearly 380 boys. It also made the England and Wales Top 100 for the first time in the same year.

Notable bearers include footballers Yahya Black and Yahya Gaad, and actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II who may have had an influence on the rise of the name in the US.

Yahya is also given to girls.

Pronounced YAH-yuh.

As of October 2026, Yahya ranked #16663 in US births in 2011 SSA.