Yahya
From Arabic يَحْيَى (yaḥyā), equivalent to John in the Qur'an.
Every Yahya since 1972 — 4,582 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Yahya
Yahya is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #616 in 2025 with 455 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1972, 4,582 American babies have been named Yahya. Its peak came in 2025, when 455 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Yahya stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Yahya year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 455 | #616 |
| 2024 | — | — | 379 | #707 |
| 2023 | — | — | 265 | #881 |
| 2022 | — | — | 243 | #942 |
| 2021 | — | — | 195 | #1,087 |
| 2020 | — | — | 210 | #1,006 |
| 2019 | — | — | 226 | #952 |
| 2018 | — | — | 202 | #1,022 |
| 2017 | — | — | 230 | #922 |
| 2016 | — | — | 224 | #938 |
| 2015 | — | — | 211 | #982 |
| 2014 | — | — | 167 | #1,142 |
| 2013 | — | — | 173 | #1,083 |
| 2012 | — | — | 158 | #1,160 |
| 2011 | 6 | #16,664 | 130 | #1,317 |
| 2010 | — | — | 113 | #1,461 |
| 2009 | — | — | 133 | #1,313 |
| 2008 | — | — | 94 | #1,654 |
| 2007 | — | — | 90 | #1,698 |
| 2006 | — | — | 80 | #1,757 |
| 2005 | — | — | 67 | #1,921 |
| 2004 | — | — | 55 | #2,160 |
| 2003 | — | — | 47 | #2,310 |
| 2002 | — | — | 35 | #2,751 |
| 2001 | — | — | 56 | #1,957 |
| 2000 | — | — | 43 | #2,296 |
| 1995 | — | — | 13 | #4,788 |
| 1990 | — | — | 7 | #7,165 |
| 1985 | — | — | 11 | #4,043 |
| 1980 | — | — | 8 | #4,930 |
| 1975 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
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| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
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| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
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| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Yahya
- Yahya Muhammad Hamid ed-Din Politician · 1869–1948
- Yahya Khan Politician · 1914–1980
- Yahya of Antioch Historian · 980–1066
- Yahya Jammeh Politician · b. 1965
- Yahya Kemal Beyatlı Writer · 1884–1958
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Yahya mean?
From Arabic يَحْيَى (yaḥyā), equivalent to John in the Qur'an.
How popular is the name Yahya in 2025?
Yahya ranked #616 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 455 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Yahya?
4,582 babies have been named Yahya in the United States since 1972, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Yahya most popular?
Yahya peaked in 2025, when 455 newborns received the name.
Is Yahya a boy or girl name?
Yahya is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Yahya rising or falling?
Yahya is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Yahya?
Well-known people named Yahya include Yahya Muhammad Hamid ed-Din (politician), Yahya Khan (politician), Yahya of Antioch (historian).