Yu: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#8,892

among boys · ↑5,325 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Yu

How common

1 in 189,786

boys born in 2025

Peak year

2007

35 babies

All-time total

830

#8,410 all-time among boys

First recorded

1969

in Social Security records

Yu popularity over time

830 babies have been named Yu since 1969, 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

BoysGirls

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	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1960s	–	5	5	1	–	#5,035
1970s	12	16	28	3	+460%	#5,763
1980s	69	76	145	15	+418%	#3,439
1990s	109	103	212	21	+46%	#4,403
2000s	132	109	241	24	+14%	#4,700
2010s	53	88	141	14	-41%	#7,591
2020s (to 2025)	6	52	58	10	-31%	#7,483

The story of Yu

Yu is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #8,892 in 2025 with 9 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1969, 830 American babies have been named Yu, about 54% boys and 46% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2007, when 35 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 Yu stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Yu?

The median living Yu is about 24 years old; half are between 16 and 34. An estimated 800 people named Yu 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.

Yu 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	–	–	9	#8,892
2024	6	#15,220	5	#14,217
2023	–	–	6	#12,205
2022	–	–	11	#7,750
2021	–	–	10	#8,139
2020	–	–	11	#7,483
2019	–	–	10	#8,197
2018	–	–	11	#7,602
2017	9	#11,594	7	#10,740
2016	6	#16,166	11	#7,591
2015	–	–	9	#8,723
2014	5	#19,137	8	#9,610
2013	8	#13,108	10	#8,094
2012	10	#11,222	9	#8,846
2011	6	#16,699	6	#12,246
2010	9	#12,247	7	#10,736
2009	8	#13,670	6	#12,453
2008	–	–	7	#11,008
2007	23	#6,079	12	#7,071
2006	14	#8,706	13	#6,451
2005	19	#6,525	9	#8,279
2004	14	#8,246	12	#6,508
2003	14	#7,990	14	#5,549
2002	17	#6,690	17	#4,700
2001	12	#8,741	6	#10,534
2000	11	#9,154	13	#5,577
1995	12	#7,505	9	#6,398
1990	16	#5,834	13	#4,403
1985	9	#7,552	12	#3,801
1980	7	#9,089	–	–
1975	–	–	–	–
1970	–	–	–	–
1965	–	–	–	–
1960	–	–	–	–
1955	–	–	–	–
1950	–	–	–	–
1945	–	–	–	–
1940	–	–	–	–
1935	–	–	–	–
1930	–	–	–	–
1925	–	–	–	–
1920	–	–	–	–
1915	–	–	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Famous people named Yu

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

1 Yu Darvish Japanese baseball pitcher (born 1986) Contemporary
2 Yu the Great Xia Dynasty king and founder -2123–-2055 · Antiquity
3 Yu Hua Chinese writer (born 1960) Contemporary
4 Yu Rongguang Chinese actor and martial artist (born 1958) Contemporary
5 Yu Wenxia Chinese actress, singer, presenter, and beauty queen b. 1989 · Contemporary
6 Yu Zhengsheng Chinese politician (born 1945) Contemporary
7 Yu Yangyi Chinese chess grandmaster (born 1994) Contemporary
8 Yu Jin General serving warlord Cao Cao (died 221) 200–221 · Antiquity
9 Yu Dabao Chinese footballer b. 1988 · Contemporary
10 Yu Yang Chinese badminton player (born 1986) Contemporary
11 Yu Kil-chun Korean independence activist (1856–1914) 19th century
12 Yu Hai Chinese footballer b. 1987 · Contemporary
13 Yu Doan Japanese footballer b. 1995 · Contemporary
14 Yu Jing Chinese speed skater b. 1985 · Contemporary
15 Yu Sun-bok North Korean table tennis player b. 1970 · Contemporary
16 Yu Song Chinese judoka (born 1986) Contemporary
17 Yu Tomidokoro Japanese footballer (born 1990) Contemporary
18 Yu Hasegawa Japanese footballer b. 1987 · Contemporary
19 Yu Tokisaki Japanese footballer b. 1979 · Contemporary
20 Yu Nakasato Japanese footballer b. 1994 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Yu?

The median living Yu is about 24 years old. Half of all living Yus are between 16 and 34 years old.

How many people named Yu are alive today?

An estimated 800 people named Yu are alive in the United States, based on 830 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Yu mean?

Synonym of Yuu; A unisex given name from Japanese.

How popular is the name Yu in 2025?

Yu ranked #8,892 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 9 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Yu?

830 babies have been named Yu in the United States since 1969, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Yu most popular?

Yu peaked in 2007, when 35 newborns received the name.

Is Yu a boy or girl name?

Yu is used for both: about 46% of babies named Yu have been girls and 54% boys.

Is the name Yu rising or falling?

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

Who are famous people named Yu?

Well-known people named Yu include Yu Darvish (baseball player), Yu the Great (politician), Yu Hua (writer).

Names like Yu

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

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