Yahya
Yahya is a boy's name of Arabic origin.
Meaning
God is gracious; living or he lives.
Origin and history
Yahya is an Arabic name of Semitic origin, traditionally corresponding to John. In Islamic tradition, Yahya is recognized as a prophet equivalent to John the Baptist. In recent years, its usage in the United States has grown steadily, ranking among the top 1000 boys' names in the 2020s.
Popularity in the United States
4,576 babies in the United States have been named Yahya since 1880. It ranks #1833 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #793.
States where it is most popular
- NY (15.7 %)
- CA (12.3 %)
- TX (11 %)
- MN (10.2 %)
- IL (7.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 0 |
| 1960-1970 | 0 |
| 1970-1980 | 18 |
| 1980-1990 | 96 |
| 1990-2000 | 181 |
| 2000-2010 | 700 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,834 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,747 |
Famous people named Yahya
- Yahya Abdul-Mateen II: actor
Fun facts
- Yahya is revered in Islamic tradition as a prophet who was granted wisdom from a young age.
- It serves as the Arabic linguistic equivalent to the Hebrew name Yohanan, known in Western traditions as John.
- The name entered the top 1000 names for baby boys in the U.S. during the 2020s, showing consistent growth.