NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Yve

Of French origin, meaning "yew tree".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2006. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Yve is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Yve popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2006 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5061, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 3 births.

This profile covers 12 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 1998 to 2006. 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 12 living people in the UK are called Yve. 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 2007 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Yve ranked #5061 for girls in England and Wales in 2006, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1998, when 3 girls were registered as Yve.
  • About 12 living people in the UK are estimated to have Yve as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5061

2006

Births in 2006

3

Latest year

Peak year

1998

3 births

Estimated living

12

2026

Meaning

What does Yve mean?

The name Yve is a French feminine given name derived from the Germanic name Ivo or Ivo. It can also be spelled as Yves or Yvette. The name Ivo is believed to have originated from the Germanic word "iw," meaning yew tree. The yew tree was considered sacred in ancient Germanic cultures, which may explain the name's significance.

The earliest recorded use of the name Ivo dates back to the 7th century. One of the earliest known individuals with this name was Saint Ivo of Kermartin, a 13th-century Catholic priest and jurist from Brittany, France, who was known for his dedication to the poor and his advocacy for justice.

In the Middle Ages, the name Yve gained popularity in France and other parts of Europe. One notable bearer of the name was Yves de Chartres, a 12th-century French philosopher and theologian who made significant contributions to the development of scholastic philosophy.

During the Renaissance period, the name Yve became associated with artists and intellectuals. One famous example is the French painter Yves Tanguy (1900-1955), a prominent figure in the Surrealist movement. His dreamlike and imaginative paintings often featured strange, biomorphic forms and landscapes.

Another notable figure with the name Yve was Yves Congar (1904-1995), a French Dominican priest and theologian who played a significant role in the Second Vatican Council and the renewal of Catholic theology.

In the 20th century, the name Yve was popularized by fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent (1936-2008), whose iconic fashion house and contributions to haute couture have left a lasting impact on the fashion industry.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Yve throughout history. The name's enduring popularity, particularly in France, reflects its rich cultural heritage and the diverse backgrounds of those who have borne it.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Yve over time

The chart below shows babies named Yve registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 to 2006. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Yve, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2006, compared with 3 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Yve
01223199820022006

Decades

Yve by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Yve 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
2000s #4619 9 3
1990s #3848 3 1

Related

Names similar to Yve

FAQ

Yve: questions and answers

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

In 2006, Yve was ranked #5061 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Yve most popular?

The peak year on record was 1998, with 3 babies registered as Yve in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Yve?

Of French origin, meaning "yew tree".

How many people are called Yve in the UK?

A total of 12 babies have been registered as Yve across the 4 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.