UK name, mostly boys
Yun
A feminine Korean name meaning "clouds" or "beautiful as a cloud".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2012. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 16 girls.
Yun is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Yun popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2012 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4805, 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 6 recorded years from 1996 to 2012. 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 Yun. 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 2013 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Yun ranked #4805 for boys in England and Wales in 2012, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2006, when 5 boys were registered as Yun.
- • Yun is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 24 living people in the UK are estimated to have Yun as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 60.0% of Yun registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4805
2012
Births in 2012
3
Latest year
Peak year
2006
5 births
Estimated living
24
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Yun
In England and Wales birth records, Yun has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 60.0% of registrations are for boys and 40.0% 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.
Yun registered for boys
- Ranked #4,805 in 2012
- 3 boys registered in 2012
- Peak: 2006 (5 births)
Yun registered for girls
- Ranked #5,876 in 2012
- 3 girls registered in 2012
- Peak: 2010 (6 births)
Meaning
What does Yun mean?
The name Yun has its origins in various Asian cultures and languages, with a rich history that spans centuries. It is believed to have first emerged as a name in Chinese and Korean cultures, where it carried meanings related to clouds, grace, and beauty.
In Chinese, the character for Yun (云) represents clouds, and the name was often associated with the ethereal and poetic qualities of clouds. It was a popular name for both males and females, reflecting a desire for the child to possess a gentle and graceful nature.
Korean culture also embraced the name Yun (윤), where it held connotations of elegance, refinement, and the cyclical nature of seasons. The name was particularly favored for girls, as it evoked a sense of femininity and grace.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Yun can be found in Chinese literature from the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). The renowned poet Li Bai (701-762 AD) wrote poems featuring characters with the name Yun, reflecting the name's association with beauty and nature.
In Korea, the name Yun gained prominence during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392 AD), when it was often bestowed upon members of the royal family and nobility. Princess Yun Hwanghye (1265-1354), a renowned Buddhist nun and poet, was one of the most notable figures to bear this name during this period.
Throughout history, several influential individuals have carried the name Yun. Yun Shouping (1633-1690), a Chinese painter and calligrapher of the Qing Dynasty, was renowned for his innovative techniques and artistic style.
Yun Nae-hyun (1616-1670), a Korean scholar and diplomat, played a crucial role in diplomatic relations between Korea and China during the Joseon Dynasty.
Yun Dong-ju (1917-1945), a celebrated Korean poet, is renowned for his poignant works that explored themes of resistance and oppression during Japan's colonial rule over Korea.
Yun Isang (1917-1995), a Korean composer, is considered one of the pioneers of avant-garde music, blending traditional Korean influences with Western techniques.
Yun Chi-ho (1864-1945), a Korean independence activist and educator, was instrumental in promoting modern education and advocating for Korea's independence from Japanese occupation.
While the name Yun has maintained its cultural significance and popularity in various Asian countries, its meaning and symbolism have evolved over time, reflecting the diverse histories and perspectives of the regions where it has been embraced.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Yun over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Yun in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2012. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Yun, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2012, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Yun by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Yun 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 | #4805 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3413 | 18 | 4 |
| 1990s | #2863 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Yun
- 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
Yun: questions and answers
How popular is the name Yun in the UK right now?
In 2012, Yun was ranked #4805 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Yun most popular?
The peak year on record was 2006, with 5 babies registered as Yun in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Yun?
A feminine Korean name meaning "clouds" or "beautiful as a cloud".
How many people are called Yun in the UK?
A total of 24 babies have been registered as Yun across the 6 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.