UK girl's name
Yamina
A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "toward the right hand".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Yamina is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Yamina popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4634, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1999, with 5 births.
This profile covers 45 England and Wales registrations across 12 recorded years from 1999 to 2021. 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 80% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 45 living people in the UK are called Yamina. 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 2022 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Yamina ranked #4634 for girls in England and Wales in 2021, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1999, when 5 girls were registered as Yamina.
- • About 45 living people in the UK are estimated to have Yamina as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4634
2021
Births in 2021
4
Latest year
Peak year
1999
5 births
Estimated living
45
2026
Meaning
What does Yamina mean?
The name Yamina is of Arabic origin, derived from the root word "yamin," which means "right hand" or "blessed." It is a feminine name that has been used primarily in the Middle East and North Africa for centuries.
In the Arabic language, the right hand symbolizes strength, power, and blessings. Thus, the name Yamina carries connotations of auspiciousness and good fortune. It is believed that the name first emerged during the early Islamic era, around the 7th century AD, when Arabic culture and language were spreading across the region.
While the name Yamina does not appear explicitly in religious texts or ancient scriptures, it has been a popular choice among Arab communities for generations. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to medieval times, when it was used by notable figures in various fields.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Yamina was Yamina bint Abi Hashim (born around 810 AD), a renowned poet and scholar from Baghdad during the Abbasid Caliphate. Her literary works and contributions to Arabic literature have been celebrated throughout history.
Another notable figure was Yamina bint Al-Muqaddam (1091-1163), a Moroccan scholar and mystic who played a significant role in the development of Sufism in North Africa. Her teachings and writings have greatly influenced Islamic spirituality and philosophy.
In more recent history, Yamina Rachid (1910-2013) was a prominent Algerian activist and feminist who fought for women's rights and independence during the Algerian War. Her unwavering commitment to social justice and equality made her an iconic figure in Algeria's struggle for liberation.
Yamina Bakiri (born 1959) is a renowned Algerian novelist and playwright, whose works explore themes of identity, culture, and the experiences of women in modern Algerian society. Her literary contributions have earned her numerous awards and international recognition.
Yamina Benguigui (born 1959) is a French filmmaker and activist of Algerian descent. Her documentary and feature films often focus on the lives of immigrant communities and the challenges they face, shedding light on important social and cultural issues.
These are just a few examples of influential individuals who have borne the name Yamina throughout history, each contributing to their respective fields and leaving a lasting impact on their communities and societies.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Yamina over time
The chart below shows babies named Yamina registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Yamina, the clearest high point is 1999. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2021, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Yamina by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Yamina 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 | #4634 | 4 | 1 |
| 2010s | #5269 | 14 | 4 |
| 2000s | #4415 | 22 | 6 |
| 1990s | #2770 | 5 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Yamina
- Yasmin 10,052
- Yusra 2,725
- Yasmine 2,474
- Yara 1,487
- Yazmin 806
- Yumna 601
- Yasmeen 527
- Yasmina 518
- Yasemin 513
- Yana 452
- Yvie 377
- Yvonne 368
FAQ
Yamina: questions and answers
How popular is the name Yamina in the UK right now?
In 2021, Yamina was ranked #4634 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Yamina most popular?
The peak year on record was 1999, with 5 babies registered as Yamina in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Yamina?
A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "toward the right hand".
How many people are called Yamina in the UK?
A total of 45 babies have been registered as Yamina across the 12 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.