The first name Yaya
A boy’s name from Arabic.
1 syllable Male
Meaning and origin
Arabic origin
The male name is ultimately from Arabic يَحْيَى (yaḥyā); likely through a West African language.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
Yaya last appeared in the official list in 2013, given to 4 boys.
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Yaya with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Yaya at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 6 boys born in the United States were named Yaya, the 11,943rd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2021, when 8 were.
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.
Famous people named Yaya
6 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Yaya SanogoFrench footballer (born 1993)
- Yaya DaCostaAmerican actress and model, born 1982
- Banana YayaCameroonian association football player, born 1991
- Yaya Dillo DjérouChadian politician, 1974–2024
- Yaya ŞerfedinovCrimean Tatar composer, musician and poet (1894-1975)
- Yahya Jammeh2nd President of the Gambia, born 1965
More Arabic boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Yaya mean?
- The male name is ultimately from Arabic يَحْيَى (yaḥyā); likely through a West African language.
- What is the origin of the name Yaya?
- The male name is ultimately from Arabic يَحْيَى (yaḥyā); likely through a West African language.
- How popular is the name Yaya?
- In 2013, 4 boys born in England and Wales were named Yaya, ranking 3,822nd.
- When was Yaya most popular?
- 2021 in the United States, when 8 babies were named Yaya, its highest rank at 9,671st.