Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Yana
GirlRussian, Slavic· “God is gracious”
- Meaning
- God is gracious
- Origin
- Russian, Slavic
- Pronunciation
- YAH-nuh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #2,409
- US babies 2025
- 75
- Best rank
- #1,759 (1956)
- Peak year
- 2024
Meaning and origin of Yana
Yana is a Russian and Slavic name that means “God is gracious”.
Yana is a familiar Slavic form of Jana, a feminine form of John, from the Hebrew Yohanan, meaning God is gracious. It is especially popular in Russia, Ukraine and Bulgaria, where it is used as a standalone name rather than only as a short form. Yana has a short, bright sound and is easy to pronounce in many languages. It also overlaps with similar-sounding names in other cultures, which adds to its international appeal. Related forms include Jana in Czech and Slovak and Janina in Polish.
Popularity over time
Yana first appears in US Social Security records in 1955. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,759 in 1956, and the most babies received it in 2024, when 106 were named Yana. In 2025, 75 babies were named Yana, and it ranked #2,409 nationally. That is 26% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #5,905 in 1980, #4,181 in 2000, #2,075 in 2010, and #2,409 in 2025. Of the 2,670 US girls named Yana since records began, 33% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 668 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Maizy, Naliyah, Theadora, Aleya, and Jazlin.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Yana ranked highest in Washington, New York, and California.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | #1238 | 5 |
| New York | #1412 | 10 |
| California | #2271 | 9 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Yana is usually pronounced YAH-nuh, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with Y and ends in “-na”.
Middle names for Yana
A few middle names that flow with Yana: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Yana
Similar names
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Hebrew
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ih-VAH-nuh
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Leena Girl
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Kalina Girl
kuh-LEE-nuh
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Lists that include Yana
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Yana mean?
Yana is a Russian and Slavic name that means “God is gracious”.
What is the origin of the name Yana?
Yana has Russian, Slavic, and Hebrew roots. Yana is a familiar Slavic form of Jana, a feminine form of John, from the Hebrew Yohanan, meaning God is gracious.
Is Yana a popular name?
Not especially. Yana ranked #2,409 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Yana a boy or girl name?
Yana is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Yana?
Yana is usually pronounced YAH-nuh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings