The first name Yahya

In 2025, 625 boys were named Yahya, making it the 81st most popular boys’ name.

Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Yahya with other names.

In 2025, 455 boys born in the United States were named Yahya, the 616th most popular boys’ name that year.

US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

• Yahya Jammeh
  2nd President of the Gambia, born 1965
• Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
  American actor, born 1986
• Yahya Jabrane
  Association football player, born 1991
• Yahya Hassan
  Danish poet and writer, 1995–2020
• Yahya ibn Muhammad
  Emir of Morocco from 849 to 863
• Yahya ibn Khalid
  Abbasid vizier and provincial governor (died c.806)
• Yahya, Almohad Caliph
  Almohad caliph, 1200–1236
• Yahya ibn Ali ibn Hammud al-Mu'tali
  Caliph of Cordoba, 995–1035
• Yahya ibn Idris ibn Umar
  Emir of Morocco from 905 to 922
• Yahya ibn Al-Qassim
  Emir of Morocco (died 905)
• Yahya ibn Yahya
  Emir of Morocco from 863 to 866
• Yahya ibn Mahmud al-Wasiti
  13th-century Iraqi-Arab painter and calligrapher, 1300–1300

• Muhammad
• Mohammed
• Mohammad
• Ibrahim
• Mohamed
• Yusuf
• Ahmed
• Omar
• Ahmad
• Abdullah
• Musa
• Amir
• Muhammed
• Hamza
• Mustafa
• Zayn

All 218 names of Arabic origin

What does the name Yahya mean?

From Arabic يَحْيَى (yaḥyā), equivalent to John in the Qur'an.

What is the origin of the name Yahya?

From Arabic يَحْيَى (yaḥyā), equivalent to John in the Qur'an.

How popular is the name Yahya?

In 2025, 625 boys born in England and Wales were named Yahya, ranking 81st.

Is Yahya a boy's or a girl's name?

Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 4,582 US babies named Yahya since 1880 were boys.

When was Yahya most popular?

2025 in the United States, when 455 babies were named Yahya, its highest rank at 616th.

Is Yahya also a surname?

Yes. Yahya is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.