UK boy's name
Yad
Hebrew name meaning "hand" or "memorial".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Yad is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Yad popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2263, with 10 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 14 births.
This profile covers 209 England and Wales registrations across 23 recorded years from 2002 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 71% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 208 living people in the UK are called Yad. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Yad ranked #2263 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 10 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 14 boys were registered as Yad.
- • About 208 living people in the UK are estimated to have Yad as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2263
2024
Births in 2024
10
Latest year
Peak year
2011
14 births
Estimated living
208
2026
Meaning
What does Yad mean?
The name Yad has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture. It is believed to have originated in ancient times, dating back to the biblical era. The name Yad is derived from the Hebrew word "yad," which means "hand" or "memorial."
In the Hebrew Bible, the word "yad" appears numerous times, often referring to the hand of God or a physical monument or memorial. The name Yad is thought to have been given to individuals as a symbolic representation of their connection to God or their role in preserving and honoring cultural traditions.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Yad can be found in the Book of Exodus, where it is mentioned in the context of the construction of the Tabernacle. Yad ben Achiman is listed as one of the skilled craftsmen who worked on the project.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Yad. One of the most prominent was Yad Avner, a renowned Jewish scholar and philosopher who lived in the 12th century. He was known for his contributions to the fields of theology and Jewish law.
Another significant figure was Yad ben Aharon, a 13th-century rabbi and scholar from Spain. He is remembered for his extensive writings on Jewish law and his efforts to preserve the traditions of the Sephardic Jewish community.
In the 16th century, Yad ben Shulamit was a respected kabbalist and mystic from Safed, Israel. He is credited with preserving and expanding upon the teachings of Jewish mysticism, which had a profound impact on the spiritual practices of the time.
The name Yad also appears in the 18th century, with Yad ben Eliyahu, a prominent rabbi and leader of the Jewish community in Vilna, Lithuania. He was renowned for his dedication to the study and preservation of the Torah and Talmudic teachings.
In more recent times, Yad Vashem, which translates to "a memorial and a name," is the name given to the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem. This institution was established in 1953 to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and honor those who risked their lives to save Jews during that period.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Yad over time
The chart below shows babies named Yad registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2002 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Yad, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 10 births in 2024, compared with 14 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Yad by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Yad was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #2384 | 46 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2031 | 113 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2638 | 50 | 8 |
Related
Names similar to Yad
- Yusuf 11,801
- Yahya 5,758
- Yunus 2,009
- Yaseen 1,799
- Yasin 1,797
- Yuvraj 1,605
- Yaqub 1,517
- Yousef 1,489
- Yousuf 1,454
- Yasir 1,056
- Yash 876
- Youssef 749
FAQ
Yad: questions and answers
How popular is the name Yad in the UK right now?
In 2024, Yad was ranked #2263 for boys in England and Wales, with 10 births registered.
When was Yad most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 14 babies registered as Yad in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Yad?
Hebrew name meaning "hand" or "memorial".
How many people are called Yad in the UK?
A total of 209 babies have been registered as Yad across the 23 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.