Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Yuri
UnisexRussian, Japanese· “Russian form of George; Japanese lily”
- Meaning
- Russian form of George; Japanese lily
- Origin
- Russian, Japanese
- Pronunciation
- YOOR-ee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,533
- US babies 2025
- 139
- Best rank
- #1,299 (1987)
- Peak year
- 2022
Meaning and origin of Yuri
Yuri is a Russian and Japanese name that is usually said to mean “Russian form of George; Japanese lily”.
Yuri has two unrelated roots. In Russian it is the everyday form of Georgiy, the Russian version of George, from the Greek georgos, farmer. The cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space, made it famous around the world. In Japanese, yuri is the word for lily, and it is used as a girls' name. That double identity makes Yuri genuinely unisex. It is short, crisp and easy to pronounce in English. Families often choose it for its international feel, as it is recognized in many parts of the world.
Popularity over time
Yuri first appears in US Social Security records in 1919. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,299 in 1987, and the most babies received it in 2022, when 180 were named Yuri. In 2025, 139 babies were named Yuri, and it ranked #1,533 nationally. That is 80% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #3,338 in 1920, #5,541 in 1980, #2,938 in 2000, #2,902 in 2010, and #1,533 in 2025. Of the 3,769 US girls named Yuri since records began, 23% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 771 babies.
Other babies' names that peaked around the same time include Aven, Lenox, Cedar, Gentry, and Rain.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Yuri ranked highest in Maryland, Georgia, and Louisiana.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | #648 | 8 |
| Georgia | #708 | 15 |
| Louisiana | #900 | 5 |
| North Carolina | #970 | 10 |
| Florida | #1051 | 15 |
Gender, sound and spelling
Yuri is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 60% of US babies named Yuri were girls and 40% were boys.
Yuri is usually pronounced YOOR-ee, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with Y and ends in “-ri”.
Middle names for Yuri
A few middle names that flow with Yuri: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Yuri
Similar names
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Lists that include Yuri
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Yuri mean?
Yuri is a Russian and Japanese name that is usually said to mean “Russian form of George; Japanese lily”.
What is the origin of the name Yuri?
Yuri has Russian, Japanese, and Greek roots. Yuri has two unrelated roots.
Is Yuri a popular name?
Not especially. Yuri ranked #1,533 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Yuri a boy or girl name?
Yuri is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 60% of US babies named Yuri were girls and 40% were boys.
How do you pronounce Yuri?
Yuri is usually pronounced YOOR-ee. 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