NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Youness

An Arabic masculine name meaning existence, being, or essence.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Youness is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Youness popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 5 births.

This profile covers 24 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 1999 to 2022. 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 24 living people in the UK are called Youness. 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 2023 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Youness ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2006, when 5 boys were registered as Youness.
  • About 24 living people in the UK are estimated to have Youness as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4789

2022

Births in 2022

3

Latest year

Peak year

2006

5 births

Estimated living

24

2026

Meaning

What does Youness mean?

The name Youness has its roots in the Arabic language and culture, tracing back to the medieval Islamic era. It is derived from the Arabic word "yūnus," which means "dove" or "pigeon." This name finds its origins in the story of the prophet Jonah (Yunus in Arabic), who is mentioned in the Quran and the biblical Old Testament.

In the Islamic tradition, the prophet Jonah is revered for his unwavering faith and his miraculous deliverance from the belly of a whale or fish. The name Youness is often given to boys as a symbolic representation of purity, peace, and spiritual resilience, much like the dove in many cultures.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Youness can be found in the writings of medieval Islamic scholars and historians. Ibn Ishaq, a renowned biographer of the Prophet Muhammad, mentioned a companion named Youness ibn Ubayd in his seminal work, "The Life of the Messenger of God."

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Youness. In the 12th century, Youness al-Zaidi was a prominent Sufi scholar and poet from Persia, known for his profound spiritual works. Another notable bearer of this name was Youness Tawfik (1902-1989), an Egyptian writer and journalist who played a significant role in the Arab literary renaissance.

In the realm of sports, Youness Idrissi (born 1985) is a Moroccan professional footballer who has represented his country at the international level. Youness Mahmoud (born 1962) is an Egyptian former volleyball player who won multiple medals for his country in international competitions.

Additionally, Youness El Maskine (born 1982) is a Dutch-Moroccan kickboxer and mixed martial artist, renowned for his achievements in the world of combat sports.

The name Youness has transcended cultural boundaries and can be found among various communities worldwide, serving as a testament to the rich heritage and symbolism it carries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Youness over time

The chart below shows babies named Youness registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Youness, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2022, compared with 5 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Youness
01345199920102022

Decades

Youness by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Youness 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 #4789 3 1
2010s #4812 3 1
2000s #3120 15 4
1990s #2943 3 1

Related

Names similar to Youness

FAQ

Youness: questions and answers

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

In 2022, Youness was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Youness most popular?

The peak year on record was 2006, with 5 babies registered as Youness in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Youness?

An Arabic masculine name meaning existence, being, or essence.

How many people are called Youness in the UK?

A total of 24 babies have been registered as Youness 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.