Boy Names That Start with Y

Y names for boys are uncommon in English, and most of those here come from three rich traditions: Hebrew and Yiddish, Arabic, and Spanish. In Hebrew, names that English speakers usually meet in other forms begin with a y sound. Yosef is the Hebrew form of a name meaning he will add, and Yehuda means praise and is the Hebrew form of the name of one of the tribes of Israel. Yaakov is the Hebrew form of the name of the patriarch in Genesis. Yisroel and Yitzchok reflect the Ashkenazi pronunciation used in many Orthodox Jewish families, and Yair means he will enlighten.

Arabic names form another important group. Yusuf is the Arabic form of the name Yosef, and Yousef and Youssef are other common spellings. Yahya is the Arabic name of a prophet honored in Islam, Yaseen comes from the title of a chapter of the Quran, and Yasir means easy or gentle. Among Spanish-speaking families, names such as Yahir, Yadiel and Yandel have become familiar modern choices.

Because these names travel across languages, spelling can vary widely, as the several forms of Yusuf show. Choose the spelling that matches your family's language and heritage, and consider how the name will be pronounced by relatives, teachers and friends.