Yaw: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#11,941

among boys · ↓4,703 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Yaw

How common

1 in 284,679

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1997

18 babies

All-time total

405

#8,958 all-time among boys

First recorded

1973

in Social Security records

Yaw popularity over time

405 babies have been named Yaw since 1973, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

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	Boys	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–
1960s	–	–	–	–
1970s	21	2	–	#3,850
1980s	37	4	+76%	#4,450
1990s	90	9	+143%	#3,873
2000s	114	11	+27%	#4,904
2010s	92	9	-19%	#6,614
2020s (to 2025)	51	9	-8%	#7,238

The story of Yaw

Yaw is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #11,941 in 2025 with 6 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.

Since 1973, 405 American babies have been named Yaw. Its peak came in 1997, when 18 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1990s.

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

How old are people named Yaw?

The median living Yaw is about 21 years old; half are between 11 and 29. An estimated 400 people named Yaw 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.

Yaw year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Boys	Boys rank
2025	6	#11,941
2024	12	#7,238
2023	6	#12,191
2022	9	#8,954
2021	8	#9,670
2020	10	#8,037
2019	9	#8,856
2018	8	#9,637
2017	8	#9,656
2016	9	#8,780
2015	12	#7,050
2014	5	#13,997
2013	7	#10,690
2012	13	#6,614
2011	11	#7,486
2010	10	#8,117
2009	9	#8,962
2008	13	#6,748
2007	7	#10,882
2006	12	#6,896
2005	8	#9,085
2004	13	#6,126
2003	12	#6,243
2002	16	#4,904
2001	14	#5,382
2000	10	#6,823
1995	7	#7,780
1990	8	#6,397
1985	5	#7,562
1980	5	#7,279
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Famous people named Yaw

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Yaw Preko Ghanaian footballer b. 1974 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Yaw?

The median living Yaw is about 21 years old. Half of all living Yaws are between 11 and 29 years old.

How many people named Yaw are alive today?

An estimated 400 people named Yaw are alive in the United States, based on 405 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Yaw mean?

Yaw is a masculine given name originating from the Akan people and their day naming system, meaning "born on a Thursday" in Akan language, following their day naming system.

How popular is the name Yaw in 2025?

Yaw ranked #11,941 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 6 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Yaw?

405 babies have been named Yaw in the United States since 1973, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Yaw most popular?

Yaw peaked in 1997, when 18 newborns received the name.

Is Yaw a boy or girl name?

Yaw is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Yaw rising or falling?

Yaw has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Yaw?

Well-known people named Yaw include Yaw Preko (soccer player).

Names like Yaw

Names that sound and feel close to Yaw: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Yaw with similar names → More names starting with Y →