Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 2008

Yoav

Meaning Borrowed from Hebrew יוֹאָב (yo'áv) Gender Boy Rank 2025 #9,678

Borrowed from Hebrew יוֹאָב (yo'áv).

Rank 2025
#9,678
among boys · ↑4,530 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
8
named Yoav
How common
1 in 213,510
boys born in 2025
Peak year
2008
29 babies
All-time total
411
#8,875 all-time among boys
First recorded
1970
in Social Security records

Yoav popularity over time

411 babies have been named Yoav since 1970, 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
00.010.010.0218801900192019401960198020002020Peak 2008Boys

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 10 1 – #5,425
1980s 35 4 +250% #4,993
1990s 35 4 0% #5,281
2000s 166 17 +374% #3,740
2010s 111 11 -33% #5,241
2020s (to 2025) 54 9 -19% #7,080

The story of Yoav

Yoav is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #9,678 in 2025 with 8 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.

Since 1970, 411 American babies have been named Yoav. Its peak came in 2008, when 29 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 Yoav stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Yoav?

The median living Yoav is about 17 years old; half are between 11 and 22. An estimated 400 people named Yoav are alive in the United States today.

median 17 020406080100

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

Yoav year by year

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

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 8 #9,678
2024 5 #14,208
2023 9 #8,898
2022 11 #7,745
2021 12 #7,080
2020 9 #8,706
2019 8 #9,714
2018 8 #9,639
2017 9 #8,813
2016 8 #9,627
2015 8 #9,537
2014 11 #7,539
2013 8 #9,630
2012 18 #5,243
2011 15 #5,933
2010 18 #5,241
2009 18 #5,322
2008 29 #3,740
2007 27 #3,890
2006 19 #4,857
2005 16 #5,274
2004 19 #4,597
2003 14 #5,547
2002 8 #8,434
2001 7 #9,216
2000 9 #7,396
1995 5 #10,303
1990 – –
1985 5 #7,565
1980 – –
1975 – –
1970 5 #5,425
1965 – –
1960 – –
1955 – –
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 – –
1935 – –
1930 – –
1925 – –
1920 – –
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Yoav

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

  1. 1 Yoav Galant Yoav Galant Israeli politician & military officer (born 1958) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Yoav?

The median living Yoav is about 17 years old. Half of all living Yoavs are between 11 and 22 years old.

How many people named Yoav are alive today?

An estimated 400 people named Yoav are alive in the United States, based on 411 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Yoav mean?

Borrowed from Hebrew יוֹאָב (yo'áv).

How popular is the name Yoav in 2025?

Yoav ranked #9,678 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 8 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Yoav?

411 babies have been named Yoav in the United States since 1970, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Yoav most popular?

Yoav peaked in 2008, when 29 newborns received the name.

Is Yoav a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Yoav rising or falling?

Yoav has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Yoav?

Well-known people named Yoav include Yoav Galant (politician).

Names like Yoav

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

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