NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Yehya

An Arabic male name meaning "he will live" or "giver of life".

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.

Yehya is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Yehya popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 3 births.

This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 1996 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Yehya. 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

  • Yehya ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1996, when 3 boys were registered as Yehya.
  • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Yehya as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5119

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

1996

3 births

Estimated living

6

2026

Meaning

What does Yehya mean?

The name Yehya has its origins in the Arabic language. It is a variant of the name Yahya, which is derived from the Hebrew name Yohanan or Yochanan, meaning "Yahweh is gracious." This name has its roots in the ancient Middle Eastern cultures, particularly in the Judeo-Christian traditions.

Yahya is a prominent name mentioned in the Quran, where it refers to John the Baptist, a prophet in both Islam and Christianity. In the Quran, Yahya is described as a righteous man who was granted wisdom and compassion by God from a young age. This association with a significant religious figure has contributed to the popularity of the name among Muslims.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Yehya dates back to the 7th century CE. Yehya ibn Mu'adh al-Razi, a Persian scholar and poet born in 617 CE, is considered one of the earliest known individuals to bear this name. His works have significantly influenced the development of Arabic literature and poetry.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Yehya. One prominent example is Yehya ibn Masawayh, a Nestorian Christian physician and scholar who lived in the 9th century CE. He was highly influential in the field of medicine and is credited with translating and preserving many ancient Greek medical texts.

Another notable figure is Yehya al-Nawawi, a Sunni Muslim scholar and jurist born in 1233 CE in Nawa, Syria. He is renowned for his works on Islamic jurisprudence and hadith, and his book "Al-Arba'in al-Nawawiyyah" (The Forty Hadiths) is widely studied in the Islamic world.

In the realm of literature, Yehya Haqqi, an Egyptian novelist and playwright born in 1905, is celebrated for his contributions to modern Arabic literature. His works, including "The Lamp of Umm Hashim" and "The Saints' Lamp," explore themes of social injustice and the struggles of the common people.

Yehya Khan, a prominent Afghan military commander and politician from the 19th century, played a significant role in the Anglo-Afghan Wars. He led Afghan forces against the British invasion and is remembered for his resistance and defense of Afghan sovereignty.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the name Yehya throughout history. The name's rich cultural heritage and associations with religious figures, scholars, and historical personalities have contributed to its enduring popularity across various regions and communities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Yehya over time

The chart below shows babies named Yehya registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Yehya, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 3 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Yehya
01223199620102024

Decades

Yehya by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Yehya 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 #5119 3 1
1990s #2863 3 1

Related

Names similar to Yehya

FAQ

Yehya: questions and answers

How popular is the name Yehya in the UK right now?

In 2024, Yehya was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Yehya most popular?

The peak year on record was 1996, with 3 babies registered as Yehya in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Yehya?

An Arabic male name meaning "he will live" or "giver of life".

How many people are called Yehya in the UK?

A total of 6 babies have been registered as Yehya across the 2 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.