UK name, mostly boys
Yi
A masculine Chinese name meaning upright and righteousness.
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.
Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 221 girls.
Yi is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Yi 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 2010, with 21 births.
This profile covers 238 England and Wales registrations across 23 recorded years from 1999 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 14% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 253 living people in the UK are called Yi. 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
- • Yi ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 21 boys were registered as Yi.
- • Yi ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #602 in 2017.
- • Yi is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 253 living people in the UK are estimated to have Yi as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 51.9% of Yi registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2010
21 births
Estimated living
253
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Yi
In England and Wales birth records, Yi has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 51.9% of registrations are for boys and 48.1% 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.
Yi registered for boys
- Ranked #5,119 in 2024
- 3 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2010 (21 births)
Yi registered for girls
- Ranked #4,645 in 2022
- 4 girls registered in 2022
- Peak: 2008 (21 births)
Meaning
What does Yi mean?
Yi is a given name of Chinese origin that dates back to ancient times. It is a monosyllabic name that has been used in various forms and spellings throughout Chinese history.
The name Yi is derived from the Chinese character "义" (yì), which means "justice," "righteousness," or "moral integrity." This character has a long and rich history in Chinese culture, appearing in numerous philosophical and religious texts.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Yi can be found in the Classic of Poetry (Shijing), one of the oldest existing collections of Chinese poetry dating back to the 11th century BCE. In this ancient text, Yi is mentioned as the name of a virtuous and upright individual.
Throughout Chinese history, the name Yi has been associated with various prominent figures. One notable example is Yi Yin (circa 1600 BCE), a renowned minister and counselor during the Shang Dynasty. He is revered for his wisdom, integrity, and contributions to the development of Chinese statecraft.
Another famous bearer of the name Yi is Yi Zhuang (circa 659-619 BCE), a philosopher and political thinker during the Spring and Autumn period. He is known for his influential teachings on moral cultivation and governance.
During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE), Yi Xing (683-727 CE) was a renowned Buddhist monk, mathematician, and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the fields of astronomy, mathematics, and calendar reform.
In the realm of literature, Yi Baek (1366-1398) was a prominent Korean scholar and writer during the Goryeo Dynasty. He is best known for his collection of essays and poems, which reflect on the human condition and the pursuit of virtue.
Lastly, Yi Sun-shin (1545-1598) was a renowned Korean naval commander and military strategist during the Joseon Dynasty. He is celebrated for his innovative military tactics and his decisive victories against Japanese invaders during the Imjin War.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Yi, highlighting its cultural significance and association with virtues such as righteousness, wisdom, and moral integrity.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Yi over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Yi in England and Wales, 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 Yi, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 21 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Yi by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Yi 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 | #3305 | 30 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1964 | 132 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1941 | 73 | 7 |
| 1990s | #2943 | 3 | 1 |
Geography
Where Yi is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Yi. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Yi ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #602 in 2017.
Across the UK
Yi in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#602 in 2017
4 years of NRS records, 17 total registered
Related
Names similar to Yi
- 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
Yi: questions and answers
How popular is the name Yi in the UK right now?
In 2024, Yi was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Yi most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 21 babies registered as Yi in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Yi?
A masculine Chinese name meaning upright and righteousness.
How many people are called Yi in the UK?
A total of 238 babies have been registered as Yi across the 23 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 17 more in Scotland.
Where is Yi most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Yi ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #602 in 2017. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.