Yahya
Gender: Boy
Meaning: God is gracious, living
Origin: Arabic
Popularity: Ranked #616 in 2025 with 455 babies born.
History: Yahya surged in the 2020s as an Arabic form of John — Yahya is the Quranic name for John the Baptist. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II won an Emmy and appeared in The Matrix Resurrections. Yahya represents Islamic naming tradition breaking through in American entertainment.
Name length: 5 letters
How common is Yahya? About 1 in 7,315 babies born in 2025 were named Yahya, or roughly 1.2 per day in the United States.
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Frequently asked about Yahya
What does the name Yahya mean?
Yahya means “God is gracious, living” from Arabic roots.
What is the origin of the name Yahya?
Yahya has Arabic origin. The traditional meaning is “God is gracious, living”.
How popular is Yahya?
Yahya ranked #615 in 2025 — given to 455 babies that year.
When was Yahya most popular?
Yahya peaked in 2025 with 455 babies registered that year.
Is Yahya a boy or girl name?
Yahya is predominantly a boys' name — over 90% of Yahyas in registered births are male.
Is the name Yahya rising or falling in popularity?
Yahya has risen 390 spots in the rankings over the last 5 years — from #1005 in 2020 to #615 in 2025.
How long has Yahya been recorded?
Yahya appears in birth records across 49 years — from 1972 through 2025.