UK boy's name
Yago
A masculine name of Spanish origin meaning "supplanter" or "holding the heel".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Yago is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Yago popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 5 births.
This profile covers 36 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 2006 to 2022. 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 36 living people in the UK are called Yago. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Yago ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2016, when 5 boys were registered as Yago.
- • About 36 living people in the UK are estimated to have Yago as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4789
2022
Births in 2022
3
Latest year
Peak year
2016
5 births
Estimated living
36
2026
Meaning
What does Yago mean?
The name Yago is derived from the Spanish and Portuguese form of the name Jacob, which in turn comes from the Hebrew name Ya'aqov. The Hebrew name Ya'aqov is believed to have originated from the root word 'aqav, meaning "to follow," "to be behind," or "to supplant."
The biblical figure Jacob, the son of Isaac and Rebecca, is considered the namesake for this name. In the book of Genesis, Jacob is depicted as a patriarch who wrestled with an angel and had his name changed to Israel. His story and the name Jacob have had a significant influence on various cultures and religions, particularly Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Yago can be found in the epic poem "El Cantar de Mio Cid," written in the 12th century. The poem tells the story of the Castilian hero El Cid, whose real name was Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, and features a character named Yago Alvarez.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the name Yago. One of the most famous was Yago de Compostela, a 12th-century Spanish architect and sculptor who is credited with designing the famous Romanesque cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, a major pilgrimage site in Spain.
In the 16th century, Yago de Portugal was a Portuguese navigator and explorer who accompanied Ferdinand Magellan on his famous voyage around the world. He was one of the few survivors of the expedition and played a crucial role in navigating the fleet across the Pacific Ocean.
Another notable figure was Yago Potosí, a 17th-century Bolivian painter known for his works depicting religious themes and portraying the indigenous people of the region. His paintings are considered important examples of colonial art in South America.
In the literary world, Yago is famously associated with the character Iago from William Shakespeare's play "Othello." Iago is the villainous antagonist who manipulates and deceives Othello, leading to tragic consequences. This character has become a cultural icon and has influenced the portrayal of villains in literature and art for centuries.
Finally, Yago Lamela was a 20th-century Spanish painter and engraver known for his surrealist works. He was part of the Spanish avant-garde movement and his works often explored themes of dreams, the subconscious, and the human condition.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Yago over time
The chart below shows babies named Yago registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2006 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Yago, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2022, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Yago by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Yago 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 | #4390 | 7 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4262 | 22 | 6 |
| 2000s | #3956 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Yago
- 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
Yago: questions and answers
How popular is the name Yago in the UK right now?
In 2022, Yago was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Yago most popular?
The peak year on record was 2016, with 5 babies registered as Yago in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Yago?
A masculine name of Spanish origin meaning "supplanter" or "holding the heel".
How many people are called Yago in the UK?
A total of 36 babies have been registered as Yago across the 10 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.