by baby&familyDownload

Girl Names

Girl Names Starting with Y

The letter Y is rare at the beginning of girl names. If you are looking for a first name that isn't heard often in everyday life, this letter offers an interesting selection. Because the German-speaking world has produced hardly any indigenous Y names of its own, most options stem from international name families or are alternative spellings of familiar first names.

HeyName · 5 min read

The Names at a Glance

Since the selection of first names with this initial letter is small, here is a mix from various language areas and name families:

  • Yade: A name from the Turkish-speaking world. It is widely translated as "memory" or "remembrance."
  • Yael: This Hebrew first name traces back to the word for the Nubian ibex or mountain goat.
  • Yana: This is a Slavic spelling of Jana, which is documented as a short form of Johanna. The underlying Hebrew word means "God is gracious."
  • Yara: The Brazilian Yara is a variant of Iara and is associated with the water figure from Brazilian folklore; the Tupi elements are explained as "lady of the waters." Independently, the Yara used in the Arabic-speaking world is connected to Persian yār, "friend" or "helper."
  • Yasmin: The name originates from Persian and denotes the jasmine plant. A common spelling variant is Yasmine.
  • Yella: This name is widely interpreted as a North German or Frisian short form of Gabriela. The Hebrew base of the original name means "God is my strength."
  • Yesenia: A first name from the Spanish-speaking world that is often traced back to a South American species of palm tree. The older word meaning of this name family is not definitively clear.
  • Ylenia: Ylenia is a spelling variant of Ilenia. An elaboration of Elena is assumed. The exact origin is unexplained; a definitive translation such as "sunbeam" cannot be reliably established.
  • Ylva: The name traces back to the Old Norse word "ulfr" and means "she-wolf." It is particularly common in Scandinavia.
  • Ylvi: This is a pet form or collateral form of the Scandinavian name Ylva. Another common spelling is Ylvie.
  • Ynes: The Spanish spelling of Ines. This is the Spanish form of Agnes, which traces back to the Greek word for "pure" or "holy."
  • Yoko: A Japanese name. Because the meaning in Japanese depends on the characters (kanji) used, there are various translations; documented meanings include "sun child" or "child of the ocean."
  • Yola: A brief variant documented as a short form of Yolanda.
  • Yolanda: The name has Greek roots and goes back to the word "iolanthe," which means "violet."
  • Yuki: Another Japanese name whose meaning depends on the spelling. Documented meanings of the corresponding characters are "snow" or "happiness."
  • Yulia: An alternative, often English or Slavic transcription of Julia. The name belongs to the Roman family of the Julii.
  • Yumi: A Japanese first name. One documented meaning of the corresponding kanji characters is "beauty."
  • Yuna: This name has distinct naming histories. In Celtic, it is interpreted as a feminine form of Ivo (yew). In Japanese, the meaning depends on the chosen characters.
  • Yvonne: The feminine form of Yvon. The Germanic word root "iwa" means "yew" or "bow made of yew wood."

Between J and I: Pronunciation Peculiarities

In the German language, there is no uniform pronunciation rule for the letter Y at the beginning of a name. With names like Yara or Yana, you pronounce the Y like a J. With Nordic names like Ylva or Ylvi, on the other hand, the letter sounds like an I or a short Ü. In everyday life, this means: Your child will occasionally need to explain the spelling or pronunciation of their name.

If you decide on a Y variant of a familiar name (for example, Yulia instead of Julia, or Ynes instead of Ines), it makes the name stand out visually. However, check whether you like the written form enough to accept spelling it out more frequently. When hearing these names, people often initially assume the standard spelling.

How to Narrow Down Your Selection

Since the selection of Y names is manageable, it is worth exploring various international variants. If you use the HeyName app, you can specifically set the initial letter filter to Y. Rate the names independently of one another: swipe right for "Favorite," down for "Maybe," or left for "Not a match." Names that you have both marked as favorites will immediately appear as mutual matches. This way, you can see right away whether you like the same Y names and discuss your shortlist together.

Editorial update:

Back to this topic: Girl names

Your next question