122 Boy Names That Start With Y: With Youthful Meanings (2024)

If you adore the rarer initials and are looking for a moniker way down the register, consider choosing from these unique and unusual boy names that start with Y.

Uncommon yet cool, each of these Y names for boys holds fantastic meanings that may be spiritual, historical, or natural, so we’d recommend you have a browse.

Interestingly, many of these Y names are just spelling variants of names traditionally spelled with J or I initials. So, if you like to mix it up, be sure to read on.

122 Unique Boy Names That Start With Y

These are the best names for boys that start with Y, for lads who love to stand out.

1. Yaakov – one of many international variants of Jacob, meaning “supplanter.”
2. Yachin – great if you love biblical names with Y for boys and girls, meaning “God will establish.”
3. Yachle’el – from Hebrew, this Jahleel variant means “God waits.”
4. Yacouba – a Western African variant of Jacob, meaning “he who supplants.”
5. Yadiel – a joyful Spanish boy’s name extolling the “praise of God.”
6. Yael – a biblical Hebrew name meaning “mountain goat,” great for boys or girls.
7. Yagiz – meaning “dark, black, brown,” this Turkish color name sounds spicy.
8. Yağmur – a strong, gender-neutral Turkish name meaning “rain.”
9. Yago – a Spanish take on Jacob, meaning “supplanter.”
10. Yahir – perhaps a variant of Yair, for the most “enlightening” babies.
11. Yahto – a great ethnic pick among Native American Y names for boys, meaning blue.
12. Yahya – a fun-to-say Muslim name for devout males, meaning “God is gracious.”
13. Yair – meaning “he will enlighten,” this Hebrew name is spiritual and holy in tone.
14. Yakim – for a boy who’s “established by God,” consider this Russian variant of Joachim.
15. Yakob – a variant of the biblical name Jacob, meaning “supplanter.”
16. Yakov – a Russian variant of Yakob, also meaning “supplanter.”
17. Yakup – a standout Turkish take on Jacob.
18. Yalçın – meaning “steep,” perhaps for a Turkish kid born on a hill.
19. Yale – a cool alma mater name, meaning “fertile ground” as a Welsh surname.
20. Yam – like the root vegetable, but also inspired by a Middle Eastern sea god.
21. Yama – meaning “twin” in Sanskrit, belonging to the Hindu god of death and the underworld.
22. Yamaç – another cool Turkish boy’s name meaning “hillside, mountainside.”
23. Yan – a gender-neutral Chinese name element with various meanings, including “beautiful” and “rocky.”
24. Yan – separately, a Belarusian variant of John, meaning “God is gracious.”
25. Yancy – perhaps used to denote an “Englishman,” as a softer spin on the word “Yankee.”
26. Yang – a very common Chinese surname, beautifully meaning “willow, aspen.”
27. Yanis – from the Greek name Gianis, this spiritual pick means “gift from God.”
28. Yaniv – meaning “he will prosper”, is a virtuous Hebrew name to consider.
29. Yankel – also a form of Jacob, this smart variant comes from Yiddish.
30. Yanko – a nickname form of Yoan, with a fun-to-say appeal.
31. Yannakis – from the same spiritual thread as Yanis, meaning “God is gracious.”
32. Yannick – of Hebrew and French roots, this unisex name also means “God is gracious.”
33. Yannig – a fun variant of Yannick, with a softer second syllable.
34. Yaqoob – meaning “supplanter,” is an Arabic take on Jacob.
35. Yarden – a Hebrew form of Jordan, with the adventurous, watery meanings of “to flow, to descend.”
36. Yardley – an outdoorsy pick among Y names for boys, meaning “wood clearing” in Old English.
37. Yaromir – from Slavic roots, this carries triumphant meanings including “strong, energetic, world, peace.”
38. Yaropolk – a regal Slavic name, perhaps meaning “fierce one.”
39. Yaroslav – a badass, Slavic-rooted boy’s name for a warrior, meaning “powerful glory.”
40. Yas – meaning “snow,” this Navajo name is great for a winter-born lad.
41. Yasar – a great Muslim name full of “luxury, wealth, ease.”
42. Yash – is short yet full of power, carrying Sanskrit meanings of “luxury, majesty, fame, glory.”
43. Yasha – a fun-to-say Russian Y name for boys, meaning “supplanter.”
44. Yasir – we love this name for a kid that’s got it all, meaning “easy, rich.”
45. Yasser – like Yasir, this Arabic name means “easy, rich.”
46. Yasu – an Arabic name for Jesus, thus a beautifully holy name for a man.
47. Yates – more commonly heard as a last name, meaning “gatekeeper” in Old English.
48. Yavuz – a strong Turkish name for a determined man, meaning “inflexible, resolute.”
49. Yaxkin – meaning “first sun,” this glorious name comes from Mayan culture.
50. Yeats – like Yates, yet with that traditional, poetic appeal.
51. Yefrem – meaning “fruitful, productive,” thus particularly inspiring among names for boys that start with Y.
52. Yegor – also from the George stem, Yegor is an earthy Russian choice.
53. Yehochanan – a very old and traditional form of John (“God is gracious”) from biblical Hebrew origins.
54. Yehoshua – a traditional Hebrew spelling of Joshua, gloriously meaning “God is salvation.”
55. Yehuda – or Yehudah, meaning “praised,” is a variant of the biblical name Judah.
56. Ye-Jun – a very popular Korean boy name for the most “talented” of males.
57. Yên – is short and sweet among Vietnamese boy names with Y, meaning “peaceful.”
58. Yeoman – this old vocabulary name historically refers to a servant’s title or perhaps a landowner.
59. Yermolay – interestingly, this surname has roots in the Greek messenger God, Hermes.
60. Yeruslan – meaning “lion,” this proud name is rooted in Russian folklore.
61. Yeshua – another biblical Hebrew name meaning “God is salvation.”
62. Yeti – like the legendary abominable snowman, because why not?
63. Yevgeny – a typical Russian name for the most “noble” princes.
64. Yevhen – meaning “well-born,” this Ukrainian form of Eugene has a delightful, classy air.
65. Ygor – a badass Slavic name for a “warrior.”
66. Yidel – a Yiddish form of Judah, meaning “praise.”
67. Yiğit – a cool Turkish name for the most “brave, valiant” warrior men.
68. Yıldırım – a fiery Turkish surname meaning “lightning, thunder.”
69. Yıldız – this Turkish word for “star” makes a glittering pick for a lad.
70. Yılmaz – a common Turkish surname and given name, proudly meaning “brave, unbeatable.”
71. Yiorgos – relating to the Greek Giorgos, this means “earthworker.”
72. Yishmael – rich in spirituality, this Hebrew male name means “God will hear.”
73. Yisrael – a form of Israel, this gorgeous country name means “God contends.”
74. Yisroel – a Yiddish form of Israel, also meaning “God contends.”
75. Ylli – from the Albanian word “yll,” meaning “star.”
76. Yngvi – meaning “lord,” this regal pick is fit for an ancient Norse god.
77. Yoan – a form of John, joyful and pure, meaning “God is gracious.”
78. Yoda – a rare yet awesome Star Wars name for an all-knowing little Jedi Master.
79. Yoel – meaning “God is the lord,” this cute Joel alternative comes from Hebrew.
80. Yogi – like the funny cartoon bear, or perhaps for a super-flexible kid.
81. Yohan – a longer way of spelling Yoan.
82. Yohannes – like Johannes, this joyful name also means “God is gracious.”
83. Yolo – for the modern texting parent, this acronym stands for “You Only Live Once.”
84. Yona – an international name with the strong meaning of “bear” from Native American roots.
85. Yonatan – meaning “God has given,” a cool spelling alternative to Jonathan.
86. Yong-Ha (용하) – meaning “great dragon,” this Korean name is super mighty.
87. Yoong-Gun (영건) – another cool Korean dragon name with Y, meaning “sky dragon.”
88. Yorick – this name from the same root as George (“farmer”) was used by Shakespeare in Hamlet.
89. York – a posh-sounding name inspired by the British city.
90. Yoshi – like the video game dinosaur, with Japanese meanings including “good luck” and “respectful.”
91. Yoshirō – a Japanese name full of positive vibes, with various meanings, including “happy, excellent, justice, luck.”
92. Yosh*to – another Japanese boy name, meaning “good luck, virtuous, blessed.”
93. Yossel – a Yiddish take on the gorgeous baby name Joseph.
94. Younes – meaning “dove,” a spelling variant of Younus or Yunus.
95. Young – is rarely heard as a given name, yet this surname sounds very affectionate for a son.
96. Younus – meaning “dove,” this glorious name connotes peace and friendship.
97. Youriy – a much longer way of spelling Yuri, meaning “farmer, earthworker.”
98. Yousuf – an Arabic form of Joseph, meaning “God will add.”
99. Yrjö – a Finnish “farmer” name, also from the same family as the name George.
100. Yu – a unisex Chinese name element with possible meanings including “jade, gemstone,” and “rain.”
101. Yudel – another Yiddish form of Judah, for a child worthy of all the “praise.”
102. Yue – a Chinese name element meaning “moon,” pronounced “UEH.”
103. Yukie – this adorable Japanese name carries “eternal happiness.”
104. Yukio – it’s hard not to adore this Japanese Y name, meaning “snow boy.”
105. Yulduz – this celestial beauty means “star” in Uzbek.
106. Yule – this archaic word for Christmas sounds trendy enough to name a winter-born miracle.
107. Yulian – a Russian spelling of the saintly name Julian, meaning “youthful.”
108. Yuliy – a great, five-letter short form of Yulian, also meaning “youthful.”
109. Yunuen – a rare name, beautifully shared with a lake island in Mexico.
110. Yunus – a spelling variant of Younus, interestingly an Arabic form of Jonah.
111. Yuri – this famous name is interestingly a Slavic form of George, meaning “earthworker.”
112. Yuriy – as with Yuri, but even better if you love that letter Y.
113. Yusha – a cozy Arabic variant of Joshua, meaning “God is salvation.”
114. Yusuf – another cute way of spelling Yousuf.
115. Yutaka – of Japanese origin, this baby name means “abundance.”
116. Yuval – meaning “stream, brook,” this name is sweet, watery, and gender-neutral.
117. Yuvraj – meaning “crown prince,” adorably regal among Indian boy names that start with Y.
118. Yuzu – a rare name inspired by the citrus fruit.
119. Yvain – another spelling of Ywain, meaning “well-born.”
120. Yvan – a French take on the commanding name Ivan, meaning “God is gracious.”
121. Yves – pronounced “EEV,” this great French boy’s name is earthy with its “yew tree” meaning.
122. Ywain – after a legendary Knight of the Round Table and a fantastic Welsh name.

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About the Author

Madeleine Lily Webb

Madeleine is a writer from somewhere near Manchester, England. Madeleine's background in languages and linguistics has led to baby names becoming one of her favorite topics to write about. When she's not fallen down a rabbit hole of stories behind unique names, Madeleine can be found hanging out with her cat, taking photos of flowers, or dancing.