UK boy's name
Yann
A French masculine name derived from the Biblical name Jonah, meaning "dove".
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.
Yann is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Yann popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3451, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 11 births.
This profile covers 127 England and Wales registrations across 21 recorded years from 1996 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 45% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 126 living people in the UK are called Yann. 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
- • Yann ranked #3451 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2003, when 11 boys were registered as Yann.
- • About 126 living people in the UK are estimated to have Yann as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3451
2021
Births in 2021
5
Latest year
Peak year
2003
11 births
Estimated living
126
2026
Meaning
What does Yann mean?
The given name Yann has its origins in the Breton language, spoken in the region of Brittany in northwestern France. It is derived from the Celtic root "Iann" or "Ian", meaning "God is gracious" or "gift from God". The name can be traced back to the early medieval period and was particularly popular among the Breton people.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Yann comes from the 6th century Breton legend of St. Yann Venniou, also known as St. John the Venerable. He was a revered figure in Brittany, renowned for his piety and miracles. The veneration of St. Yann contributed to the widespread use of the name among the Breton populace.
In the 9th century, the name Yann appeared in the Cartulary of Redon, a collection of medieval charters and documents from the Redon Abbey in Brittany. This historical record provides evidence of the name's usage during this time period.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Yann. One such individual was Yann Fouere (1468-1501), a Breton poet and writer celebrated for his works in the Breton language. Another was Yann Kadour (1589-1670), a renowned Breton-language playwright and author of the famous work "Buhez Mabion Izrael" (Life of the Sons of Israel).
In the realm of religion, Yann de Gamalerio (1625-1666) was a French Jesuit missionary who served in Canada and is known for his work among the Native American tribes. Additionally, Yann Ghyr (1643-1697) was a Breton priest and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of the Breton language and its literature.
Moving into the modern era, Yann Martel (born 1963) is a notable Canadian author best known for his novel "Life of Pi", which won the prestigious Man Booker Prize in 2002. Yann Tiersen (born 1970) is a French composer and musician, renowned for his work on the soundtrack of the film "Amélie".
These examples illustrate the enduring presence of the name Yann throughout history, rooted in its Breton origins and carried forth by individuals who have left their mark in various fields, from literature and religion to music and the arts.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Yann over time
The chart below shows babies named Yann registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Yann, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2021, compared with 11 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Yann by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Yann 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 | #3451 | 5 | 1 |
| 2010s | #3046 | 38 | 6 |
| 2000s | #2567 | 61 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2022 | 23 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Yann
- 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
Yann: questions and answers
How popular is the name Yann in the UK right now?
In 2021, Yann was ranked #3451 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Yann most popular?
The peak year on record was 2003, with 11 babies registered as Yann in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Yann?
A French masculine name derived from the Biblical name Jonah, meaning "dove".
How many people are called Yann in the UK?
A total of 127 babies have been registered as Yann across the 21 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.