Yancey: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	5	5	1	–	#1,237
1900s	–	5	5	1	0%	#1,583
1910s	–	56	56	6	+1020%	#2,269
1920s	–	73	73	7	+30%	#2,455
1930s	–	45	45	5	-38%	#2,850
1940s	–	62	62	6	+38%	#2,130
1950s	–	69	69	7	+11%	#1,386
1960s	–	260	260	26	+277%	#1,313
1970s	7	385	392	39	+51%	#1,198
1980s	–	219	219	22	-44%	#1,851
1990s	12	169	181	18	-17%	#3,221
2000s	15	112	127	13	-30%	#3,917
2010s	–	36	36	4	-72%	#8,111
2020s (to 2025)	–	7	7	1	-68%	#10,561

Decade

Girls

Boys

Total

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

#1,237

1900s

–

#1,583

1910s

–

+1020%

#2,269

1920s

–

+30%

#2,455

1930s

–

-38%

#2,850

1940s

–

+38%

#2,130

1950s

–

+11%

#1,386

1960s

–

260

+277%

#1,313

1970s

385

392

+51%

#1,198

1980s

–

219

-44%

#1,851

1990s

169

181

-17%

#3,221

2000s

112

127

-30%

#3,917

2010s

–

-72%

#8,111

2020s (to 2025)

–

-68%

#10,561

The story of Yancey

Yancey is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1894, 1,537 American babies have been named Yancey. Its peak came in 1971, when 48 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1970s.

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 Yancey stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Yancey?

The median living Yancey is about 47 years old; half are between 33 and 56. An estimated 1,200 people named Yancey are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Yancey 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	–	–	–	–
2024	–	–	–	–
2023	–	–	–	–
2022	–	–	–	–
2021	–	–	–	–
2020	–	–	7	#10,561
2019	–	–	–	–
2018	–	–	8	#9,634
2017	–	–	–	–
2016	–	–	5	#14,119
2015	–	–	7	#10,591
2014	–	–	–	–
2013	–	–	–	–
2012	–	–	6	#12,225
2011	–	–	–	–
2010	–	–	10	#8,111
2009	–	–	6	#12,431
2008	–	–	7	#10,997
2007	–	–	8	#9,760
2006	–	–	9	#8,701
2005	–	–	6	#11,428
2004	9	#11,594	16	#5,239
2003	–	–	14	#5,546
2002	6	#15,349	8	#8,429
2001	–	–	17	#4,666
2000	–	–	21	#3,917
1995	–	–	18	#3,689
1990	–	–	8	#6,395
1985	–	–	24	#2,292
1980	–	–	31	#1,851
1975	7	#7,969	41	#1,377
1970	–	–	46	#1,236
1965	–	–	21	#1,772
1960	–	–	33	#1,399
1955	–	–	–	–
1950	–	–	9	#2,767
1945	–	–	12	#2,130
1940	–	–	8	#2,868
1935	–	–	7	#3,249
1930	–	–	8	#3,287
1925	–	–	9	#3,153
1920	–	–	13	#2,455
1915	–	–	8	#3,079
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Yancey, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Yancey?

The median living Yancey is about 47 years old. Half of all living Yanceys are between 33 and 56 years old.

How many people named Yancey are alive today?

An estimated 1,200 people named Yancey are alive in the United States, based on 1,537 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Yancey in 2025?

Yancey did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Yancey?

1,537 babies have been named Yancey in the United States since 1894, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Yancey most popular?

Yancey peaked in 1971, when 48 newborns received the name.

Is Yancey a boy or girl name?

Yancey is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 98% of babies with the name.

Is the name Yancey rising or falling?

Yancey is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Yancey

Yancey popularity over time

The story of Yancey

How old are people named Yancey?

Yancey year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Yancey