NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Yui

Japanese name meaning "superior blessing" or "excellent sustenance".

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.

Yui is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Yui popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 4 births.

This profile covers 36 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 1998 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 36 living people in the UK are called Yui. 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

  • Yui ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2005, when 4 girls were registered as Yui.
  • About 36 living people in the UK are estimated to have Yui as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5891

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

2005

4 births

Estimated living

36

2026

Meaning

What does Yui mean?

The name Yui is a Japanese name that has its origins in the Japanese language. It is believed to have derived from the word "yu," which means "superior," and the word "i," which means "clothing" or "dress." The name Yui can therefore be interpreted to mean "superior clothing" or "superior dress."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Yui dates back to the 8th century AD. It is found in the historical records of the Nara period (710-794 AD) in Japan, where it was used as a personal name for both men and women.

In Japanese mythology, Yui is also the name of a Shinto goddess associated with food, clothing, and shelter. She is often depicted as a young woman carrying a bundle of rice plants, representing the importance of agriculture in Japanese culture.

Notable historical figures with the name Yui include Yui no Shosokonoe (fl. 8th century AD), a Japanese noblewoman and poet who lived during the Nara period. Her poetry is included in the famous anthology of Japanese poetry, the Man'yōshū.

Another historical figure with the name Yui is Yui no Ozunu (fl. 10th century AD), a Japanese courtier and scholar who served during the Heian period (794-1185 AD). He was known for his expertise in Chinese literature and calligraphy.

In the 12th century, Yui no Sukemitsu (1114-1182) was a prominent Japanese Buddhist monk and poet who served as the head of the Tendai sect of Buddhism.

During the Edo period (1603-1868), Yui Shosetsu (1605-1651) was a Japanese scholar and writer known for his works on Confucian philosophy.

In more recent history, Yui Ritsuko (1921-2000) was a Japanese actress and singer who appeared in numerous films and television shows during the mid-20th century.

While these are just a few examples, the name Yui has been used throughout Japanese history by individuals from various walks of life, including nobility, scholars, artists, and religious figures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Yui over time

The chart below shows babies named Yui registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 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 Yui, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Yui
01234199820112024

Decades

Yui by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Yui 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 #5470 13 4
2010s #5530 13 4
2000s #4172 7 2
1990s #3848 3 1

Related

Names similar to Yui

FAQ

Yui: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Yui was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Yui most popular?

The peak year on record was 2005, with 4 babies registered as Yui in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Yui?

Japanese name meaning "superior blessing" or "excellent sustenance".

How many people are called Yui in the UK?

A total of 36 babies have been registered as Yui across the 11 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.