Yair
Transliteration of Hebrew יַאִיר, meaning "he will light up".
Every Yair since 1976 — 5,042 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Yair
Yair is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #1,450 in 2025 with 124 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.
Since 1976, 5,042 American babies have been named Yair. Its peak came in 2006, when 311 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2000s.
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 Yair stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Yair year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 124 | #1,450 |
| 2024 | 134 | #1,404 |
| 2023 | 184 | #1,143 |
| 2022 | 135 | #1,386 |
| 2021 | 116 | #1,528 |
| 2020 | 107 | #1,555 |
| 2019 | 161 | #1,192 |
| 2018 | 173 | #1,121 |
| 2017 | 150 | #1,230 |
| 2016 | 152 | #1,233 |
| 2015 | 161 | #1,161 |
| 2014 | 174 | #1,100 |
| 2013 | 207 | #971 |
| 2012 | 163 | #1,129 |
| 2011 | 194 | #1,004 |
| 2010 | 203 | #975 |
| 2009 | 259 | #837 |
| 2008 | 262 | #835 |
| 2007 | 295 | #753 |
| 2006 | 311 | #706 |
| 2005 | 262 | #759 |
| 2004 | 252 | #742 |
| 2003 | 259 | #717 |
| 2002 | 110 | #1,243 |
| 2001 | 74 | #1,615 |
| 2000 | 49 | #2,085 |
| 1995 | 26 | #2,844 |
| 1990 | 14 | #4,163 |
| 1985 | 5 | #7,559 |
| 1980 | 9 | #4,486 |
| 1975 | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Yair
- Yair Lapid Politician · b. 1963
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Yair mean?
Transliteration of Hebrew יַאִיר, meaning "he will light up".
How popular is the name Yair in 2025?
Yair ranked #1,450 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 124 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Yair?
5,042 babies have been named Yair in the United States since 1976, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Yair most popular?
Yair peaked in 2006, when 311 newborns received the name.
Is Yair a boy or girl name?
Yair is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Yair rising or falling?
Yair has been roughly stable over the past decade.
Who are famous people named Yair?
Well-known people named Yair include Yair Lapid (politician).