UK name, mostly girls
Ye
A Chinese unisex given name meaning "branch, twig, bud".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2010. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Ye is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Ye popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2010 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4688, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 6 births.
This profile covers 27 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 2002 to 2010. 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 67% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 27 living people in the UK are called Ye. 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 2011 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Ye ranked #4688 for girls in England and Wales in 2010, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2008, when 6 girls were registered as Ye.
- • About 27 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ye as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 87.1% of Ye registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4688
2010
Births in 2010
4
Latest year
Peak year
2008
6 births
Estimated living
27
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Ye
In England and Wales birth records, Ye has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 12.9% of registrations are for boys and 87.1% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Ye registered for boys
- Ranked #3,687 in 2008
- 4 boys registered in 2008
- Peak: 2008 (4 births)
Ye registered for girls
- Ranked #4,688 in 2010
- 4 girls registered in 2010
- Peak: 2008 (6 births)
Meaning
What does Ye mean?
The name Ye has its origins in ancient Chinese culture, dating back several millennia. It is derived from the Chinese character 葉, which means "leaf" or "foliage". This character is pronounced as "ye" in Mandarin Chinese.
The name Ye can be traced back to the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600 BC – 1046 BC), one of the earliest dynasties in Chinese history. During this time, the name was likely given to individuals born during the spring season when new leaves emerge, symbolizing growth, renewal, and vitality.
In ancient Chinese literature, the name Ye is mentioned in various texts and documents. For instance, in the Analects of Confucius, a work of philosophy and moral teachings, there is a reference to a person named Ye Gong, who was a disciple of Confucius.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Ye was Ye Fashan (595-658 AD), a revered Buddhist monk during the Tang Dynasty. He was known for his scholarly contributions and his expertise in the Vinaya, the Buddhist monastic code of conduct.
Throughout Chinese history, several notable figures have borne the name Ye. Ye Xianggao (551-610 AD) was a prominent Chinese poet and calligrapher during the Sui Dynasty. His works were highly regarded for their elegance and beauty.
Another famous individual named Ye was Ye Ting (1892-1960), a Chinese revolutionary and military leader who played a significant role in the Chinese Communist Revolution. He served as a general in the People's Liberation Army and was instrumental in the establishment of the People's Republic of China.
In the realm of literature, Ye Shengtao (1894-1988) was a celebrated Chinese writer and educator. He is best known for his novels and short stories that explored themes of social injustice and the struggles of the working class.
Ye Qianyu (1904-1995) was a prominent Chinese archaeologist and paleoanthropologist. He made significant contributions to the study of ancient human remains and artifacts, particularly those related to the Peking Man fossils.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Ye, a name deeply rooted in ancient Chinese culture and symbolism.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ye over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Ye in England and Wales, from 2002 to 2010. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Ye, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2010, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ye by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ye 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4688 | 4 | 1 |
| 2000s | #4287 | 23 | 6 |
Related
Names similar to Ye
- 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
Ye: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ye in the UK right now?
In 2010, Ye was ranked #4688 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Ye most popular?
The peak year on record was 2008, with 6 babies registered as Ye in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ye?
A Chinese unisex given name meaning "branch, twig, bud".
How many people are called Ye in the UK?
A total of 27 babies have been registered as Ye across the 7 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.