Yahya Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Yahya is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Yahya?
Yahya is spelled Y-A-H-Y-A. The name has 5 letters.
Yahya at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Yahya is commonly understood to mean “God is gracious” or “alive,” corresponding to the Hebrew name John.
- Origin
- Yahya is an Arabic form of the Hebrew name Yohanan, which means “God is gracious.”
- Pronunciation
- YAH-yah · 2 syllables
Yahya Popularity in 2025
Rank#615
Recorded Births455
- Boys usage rose 92 places to #615 and recorded 76 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Yahya Mean?
Yahya is commonly understood to mean “God is gracious” or “alive,” corresponding to the Hebrew name John.
Origin: Yahya is an Arabic form of the Hebrew name Yohanan, which means “God is gracious.”
How Do You Pronounce Yahya?
PronunciationYAH-yah
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Yahya?
- History
- The name Yahya has been historically associated with the Islamic prophet Yahya ibn Zakariya, known in Christian tradition as John the Baptist.
- Cultural notes
- In Islamic tradition, Yahya is the name of a revered prophet known as John the Baptist in Christianity.
Yahya Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2003 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 455 | #615 |
| 2024 | Boys | 379 | #707 |
| 2023 | Boys | 265 | #881 |
| 2022 | Boys | 243 | #940 |
| 2021 | Boys | 195 | #1,085 |
| 2020 | Boys | 210 | #1,005 |
| 2019 | Boys | 226 | #949 |
| 2018 | Boys | 202 | #1,018 |
| 2017 | Boys | 230 | #920 |
| 2016 | Boys | 224 | #935 |
| 2015 | Boys | 211 | #977 |
| 2014 | Boys | 167 | #1,137 |
| 2013 | Boys | 173 | #1,080 |
| 2012 | Boys | 158 | #1,155 |
| 2011 | Girls | 6 | #14,824 |
| 2011 | Boys | 130 | #1,309 |
| 2010 | Boys | 113 | #1,456 |
| 2009 | Boys | 133 | #1,309 |
| 2008 | Boys | 94 | #1,639 |
| 2007 | Boys | 90 | #1,681 |
| 2006 | Boys | 80 | #1,738 |
| 2005 | Boys | 67 | #1,889 |
| 2004 | Boys | 55 | #2,131 |
| 2003 | Boys | 47 | #2,269 |
When Was Yahya Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2025 · Boys
455 recorded births
National rank #615
2024 · Boys
379 recorded births
National rank #707
2023 · Boys
265 recorded births
National rank #881
2022 · Boys
243 recorded births
National rank #940
Where Yahya Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MN | #213 | 30 |
| IL | #268 | 41 |
| MI | #321 | 29 |
| NY | #338 | 52 |
| VA | #388 | 20 |
| LA | #401 | 12 |
| NJ | #429 | 18 |
| OH | #595 | 16 |