Here is a list of Chinese names that start with Y. The page includes both family names and given names for boys and girls, along with their translations.

The list is divided into multiple sections. All the names are drawn from the Chinese Name Database (1930–2008), which contains data on over one billion people, nearly everyone born in China during that period. I analyzed the data in several ways:

  • I removed the most uncommon (less than 1 in 100,000) names from the list.
  • I categorized the given names by gender. Male or names are those given to boys or girls more than 75% of the time, while androgynous names appear have a more even distribution.
  • Traditional names were more common in the late 1900s, while modern names are more common with people born in the 2000s.
  • I also added translations to all the names.

How to Use the List of Chinese Names

This list includes the individual characters that appear in Chinese names. In China, the family name comes first (for example, Xi Jinping, 习近平), followed by the given name. While 95% of family names consist of a single character (Xi, 习), given names more often consist of two characters (Jinping, 近平). However, single-character given names are also common.

If you’re using these lists to create a fictional character, you can either use a single-character given name or combine two characters that work together.

You can use the buttons below to jump into different sections:

Traditional Chinese Boy Names That Begin with Y

  • Yán, 炎: flame; inflammation; -itis
  • Yǎn, 衍: to spread out; to develop; to overflow
  • Yǎng, 仰: to face upward; to look up; to admire
  • Yǎng, 养: to raise (animals); to bring up (children); to keep (pets)
  • Yáng, 洋: ocean; vast; foreign
  • Yáng, 羊: sheep; goat
  • Yáng, 阳: positive (electric.); sun; male principle (Taoism)
  • Yáo, 尧: Yao or Tang Yao (c. 2200 BC), one of Five legendary Emperors 五帝[wu3 di4], second son of Di Ku 帝嚳|帝喾[Di4 Ku4]
  • Yào, 耀: brilliant; glorious
  • Yào, 要: important; vital; to want
  • Yè, 业: line of business; industry; occupation
  • Yě, 冶: to smelt; to cast; seductive in appearance
  • Yě, 野: erroneous variant of 野[ye3]; field; plain
  • Yì, 义: (Tw) abbr. for 義大利|义大利[Yi4 da4 li4], Italy; justice; righteousness
  • Yì, 毅: firm and resolute; staunch
  • Yìn, 印: to print; to mark; to engrave
  • Yín, 寅: 3rd earthly branch: 3-5 a.m., 1st solar month (4th February-5th March), year of the Tiger; ancient Chinese compass point: 60°
  • Yíng, 营: camp; barracks; battalion
  • Yǒng, 勇: brave
  • Yōng, 拥: to hold; to embrace; to wrap around
  • Yǒng, 涌: to bubble up; to rush forth
  • Yòng, 用: to use; to employ; to have to
  • Yōng, 雍: harmony
  • Yǒu, 友: friend
  • Yòu, 右: right (-hand); the Right (politics); west (old)
  • Yǒu, 有: to have; there is; there are
  • You, 游: to swim; to walk; to tour
  • Yóu, 由: to follow; from; it is for…to
  • Yú, 余: (archaic) I; me; extra
  • Yú, 愚: to be stupid; to cheat or deceive; me or I (modest)
  • Yù, 裕: abundant
  • Yuán, 原: Hara (Japanese surname); former; original
  • Yuán, 援: to help; to assist; to aid
  • Yuān, 渊: deep pool; deep; profound
  • Yuǎn, 远: far; distant; remote
  • Yuè, 岳: wife’s parents and paternal uncles; high mountain; highest peak of a mountain ridge
  • Yuè, 跃: to jump; to leap

Trendy Chinese Boy Names Starting with Y (2000s)

  • Yán, 炎: flame; inflammation; -itis
  • Yǎn, 衍: to spread out; to develop; to overflow
  • Yǎng, 仰: to face upward; to look up; to admire
  • Yáng, 扬: to raise; to hoist; the action of tossing or winnowing
  • Yáng, 洋: ocean; vast; foreign
  • Yáng, 炀: molten; smelt
  • Yáng, 羊: sheep; goat
  • Yáng, 阳: positive (electric.); sun; male principle (Taoism)
  • Yáo, 尧: Yao or Tang Yao (c. 2200 BC), one of Five legendary Emperors 五帝[wu3 di4], second son of Di Ku 帝嚳|帝喾[Di4 Ku4]
  • Yào, 曜: bright; glorious; one of the seven planets of premodern astronomy
  • Yào, 耀: brilliant; glorious
  • Yè, 业: line of business; industry; occupation
  • Yě, 冶: to smelt; to cast; seductive in appearance
  • Yě, 野: erroneous variant of 野[ye3]; field; plain
  • Yì, 义: (Tw) abbr. for 義大利|义大利[Yi4 da4 li4], Italy; justice; righteousness
  • Yì, 屹: high and steep
  • Yì, 毅: firm and resolute; staunch
  • Yì, 羿: name of legendary archer; also written 后羿[Hou4 Yi4]
  • Yì, 翼: alternative name for 絳|绛[Jiang4] capital of the Jin State during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-475 BC); wing; area surrounding the bullseye of a target
  • Yìn, 印: to print; to mark; to engrave
  • Yìn, 胤: descendant; heir; offspring
  • Yǒng, 涌: to bubble up; to rush forth
  • Yōng, 雍: harmony
  • Yǒu, 友: friend
  • Yòu, 右: right (-hand); the Right (politics); west (old)
  • Yǒu, 有: to have; there is; there are
  • You, 游: to swim; to walk; to tour
  • Yóu, 由: to follow; from; it is for…to
  • Yú, 余: (archaic) I; me; extra
  • Yǔ, 宇: room; universe
  • Yú, 愚: to be stupid; to cheat or deceive; me or I (modest)
  • Yǔ, 禹: Yu the Great (c. 21st century BC), mythical leader who tamed the floods
  • Yù, 裕: abundant
  • Yuán, 原: Hara (Japanese surname); former; original
  • Yuán, 垣: wall
  • Yuán, 援: to help; to assist; to aid
  • Yuān, 渊: deep pool; deep; profound
  • Yuán, 源: root; source; origin
  • Yuǎn, 远: far; distant; remote
  • Yuè, 岳: wife’s parents and paternal uncles; high mountain; highest peak of a mountain ridge
  • Yuè, 跃: to jump; to leap

Chinese Female Given Names Popular in the Past, Starting with Y

  • Yā, 丫: fork; branch; bifurcation
  • Yà, 娅: address term between sons-in-law
  • Yá, 芽: bud; sprout
  • Yān, 烟: cigarette or pipe tobacco; smoke; mist
  • Yàn, 燕: swallow (family Hirundinidae)
  • Yàn, 艳: colorful; splendid; gaudy
  • Yè, 叶: leaf; page; lobe
  • Yín, 吟: to chant; to recite; to moan
  • Yǐn, 引: to draw (e.g. a bow); to pull; to stretch sth
  • Yǐng, 影: picture; image; film
  • Yīng, 樱: cherry
  • Yīng, 瑛: (crystal); lustrous
  • Yīng, 英: United Kingdom; British; England
  • Yíng, 莹: luster of gems
  • Yīng, 莺: oriole or various birds of the Sylvidae family including warblers
  • Yǐng, 颍: river in Henan and Anhui; grain husk; tip of sth short and slender
  • Yǐng, 颖: head of grain; husk; tip
  • Yòu, 幼: young
  • Yuán, 园: land used for growing plants; site used for public recreation
  • Yuán, 圆: circle; round; circular
  • Yuán, 媛: beautiful (woman)
  • Yuàn, 苑: park
  • Yuè, 月: moon; month; monthly
  • Yún, 芸: common rue (Ruta graveolens); books and libraries

Chinese Girl Names Starting with Y Popular Now

  • Yā, 丫: fork; branch; bifurcation
  • Yà, 娅: address term between sons-in-law
  • Yǎ, 雅: elegant
  • Yán, 妍: beautiful
  • Yān, 嫣: lovely; sweet
  • Yàn, 滟: tossing of billows
  • Yān, 烟: cigarette or pipe tobacco; smoke; mist
  • Yáo, 瑶: Yao ethnic group of southwest China and southeast Asia; jade; precious stone
  • Yáo, 谣: popular ballad; rumor
  • Yào, 钥: key
  • Yè, 叶: leaf; page; lobe
  • Yí, 仪: apparatus; rites; appearance
  • Yī, 伊: (old) third person singular pronoun (“he” or “she”); second person singular pronoun (“you”); (May 4th period) third person singular feminine pronoun (“she”)
  • Yī, 依: to depend on; to comply with or listen to sb; according to
  • Yí, 怡: harmony; pleased
  • Yǐ, 旖: fluttering of flag
  • Yī, 漪: ripple
  • Yín, 吟: to chant; to recite; to moan
  • Yīn, 茵: mattress
  • Yīn, 音: sound; noise; note (of musical scale)
  • Yīng, 樱: cherry
  • Yíng, 滢: clear; limpid (of water)
  • Yīng, 瑛: (crystal); lustrous
  • Yíng, 盈: full; filled; surplus
  • Yíng, 荧: a glimmer; glimmering; twinkling
  • Yíng, 莹: luster of gems
  • Yíng, 蓥: polish
  • Yǐng, 颍: river in Henan and Anhui; grain husk; tip of sth short and slender
  • Yǐng, 颖: head of grain; husk; tip
  • Yǒng, 咏: to sing
  • Yú, 妤: handsome; fair
  • Yú, 玙: ornamental jade
  • Yǔ, 语: dialect; language; speech
  • Yuán, 圆: circle; round; circular
  • Yuán, 媛: beautiful (woman)
  • Yuàn, 瑗: large jade ring
  • Yuàn, 苑: park
  • Yuè, 悦: pleased
  • Yuè, 月: moon; month; monthly
  • Yuè, 玥: pearl used in sacrifice
  • Yún, 芸: common rue (Ruta graveolens); books and libraries
  • Yùn, 蕴: to accumulate; to hold in store; to contain
  • Yùn, 韵: beautiful sound; appeal; charm

Chinese Male/Female Names Popular in the 1900s (Letter Y)

  • Yà, 亚: Asia; Asian; Taiwan pr. [Ya3]
  • Yán, 严: tight (closely sealed); stern; strict
  • Yàn, 宴: feast; repose
  • Yán, 岩: cliff; rock
  • Yán, 延: to prolong; to extend; to delay
  • Yàn, 彦: accomplished; elegant
  • Yàn, 晏: late; quiet
  • Yán, 沿: along; to follow (a line, tradition etc); to carry on
  • Yǎn, 演: to develop; to evolve; to practice
  • Yàn, 焰: flame
  • Yàn, 焱: variant of 焰[yan4]
  • Yàn, 砚: ink-stone
  • Yàn, 雁: wild goose
  • Yán, 颜: color; face; countenance
  • Yāng, 央: center; end; to beg
  • Yáng, 杨: poplar
  • Yàng, 样: manner; pattern; way
  • Yáo, 姚: handsome; good-looking
  • Yáo, 摇: to shake; to rock; to row
  • Yáo, 遥: distant; remote; far
  • Yě, 也: also; too; (in Classical Chinese) final particle implying affirmation
  • Yè, 晔: bright light; to sparkle
  • Yǐ, 以: to use; by means of; according to
  • Yì, 异: different; other; hetero-
  • Yì, 意: Italy; Italian; idea
  • Yì, 益: benefit; profit; advantage
  • Yì, 谊: friendship
  • Yí, 贻: to present; to bequeath
  • Yì, 轶: to excel; to surpass; to be scattered
  • Yīn, 殷: dynasty name at the end the Shang dynasty, after their move to Yinxu 殷墟 in modern Henan province; flourishing; abundant
  • Yīn, 荫: shade
  • Yín, 银: silver; silver-colored; relating to money or currency
  • Yìng, 应: to answer; to respond; to comply with
  • Yìng, 映: to reflect (light); to shine; to project (an image onto a screen etc)
  • Yíng, 瀛: ocean
  • Yíng, 迎: to welcome; to meet; to face
  • Yīng, 鹰: eagle; falcon; hawk
  • Yǒng, 永: forever; always; perpetual
  • Yōu, 优: excellent; superior
  • Yòu, 佑: to assist; to protect
  • Yòu, 又: (once) again; also; both… and…
  • Yóu, 尤: outstanding; particularly, especially; a fault
  • Yú, 于: to go; to take; sentence-final interrogative particle
  • Yù, 玉: jade
  • Yú, 瑜: excellence; luster of gems
  • Yù, 育: to have children; to raise or bring up; to educate
  • Yù, 郁: elegant; dense (growth); melancholy
  • Yú, 鱼: fish
  • Yuán, 元: the Yuan or Mongol dynasty (1279-1368); currency unit (esp. Chinese yuan); first
  • Yuán, 员: person; employee; member
  • Yuàn, 愿: honest; prudent; to hope
  • Yuán, 袁: long robe (old)
  • Yuàn, 院: courtyard; institution
  • Yuē, 约: to make an appointment; to invite; approximately
  • Yún, 云: (classical) to say; cloud
  • Yǔn, 允: just; fair; to permit
  • Yùn, 运: to move; to transport; to use

Androgynous Chinese Names Starting with Y Popular Today

  • Yà, 亚: Asia; Asian; Taiwan pr. [Ya3]
  • Yán, 严: tight (closely sealed); stern; strict
  • Yàn, 宴: feast; repose
  • Yán, 岩: cliff; rock
  • Yán, 延: to prolong; to extend; to delay
  • Yàn, 彦: accomplished; elegant
  • Yàn, 晏: late; quiet
  • Yán, 沿: along; to follow (a line, tradition etc); to carry on
  • Yǎn, 演: to develop; to evolve; to practice
  • Yàn, 焰: flame
  • Yàn, 焱: variant of 焰[yan4]
  • Yǎn, 琰: gem; glitter of gems
  • Yán, 研: to grind; study; research
  • Yàn, 砚: ink-stone
  • Yán, 言: words; speech; to say
  • Yàn, 雁: wild goose
  • Yán, 颜: color; face; countenance
  • Yāng, 央: center; end; to beg
  • Yáng, 旸: rising sun; sunshine
  • Yáng, 杨: poplar
  • Yàng, 样: manner; pattern; way
  • Yáo, 垚: embankment
  • Yáo, 姚: handsome; good-looking
  • Yáo, 摇: to shake; to rock; to row
  • Yáo, 遥: distant; remote; far
  • Yě, 也: also; too; (in Classical Chinese) final particle implying affirmation
  • Yè, 晔: bright light; to sparkle
  • Yè, 烨: blaze of fire; glorious
  • Yī, 一: one; 1; single
  • Yǐ, 乙: second of the ten Heavenly Stems 十天干[shi2 tian1 gan1]; second in order; letter “B” or Roman “II” in list “A, B, C”, or “i, Ii, III” etc
  • Yì, 亦: also
  • Yì, 亿: 100 million
  • Yǐ, 以: to use; by means of; according to
  • Yǐ, 倚: to lean on; to rely upon
  • Yī, 壹: one (banker’s anti-fraud numeral)
  • Yì, 奕: abundant; graceful
  • Yí, 宜: proper; should; suitable
  • Yì, 异: different; other; hetero-
  • Yì, 弈: ancient name for go (Chinese board game)
  • Yì, 弋: to shoot
  • Yì, 忆: to recollect; to remember; memory
  • Yì, 怿: pleased; rejoice
  • Yì, 意: Italy; Italian; idea
  • Yì, 懿: restrain; virtuous
  • Yì, 易: easy; amiable; to change
  • Yí, 沂: Yi River, Shandong
  • Yì, 溢: to overflow; (literary) excessive
  • Yì, 熠: to glow; to flash
  • Yì, 燚: to blaze; (used in given names)
  • Yì, 益: benefit; profit; advantage
  • Yī, 祎: excellent; precious; rare
  • Yì, 翊: assist; ready to fly; respect
  • Yì, 翌: bright; tomorrow
  • Yì, 艺: skill; art
  • Yì, 译: to translate; to interpret
  • Yì, 谊: friendship
  • Yí, 贻: to present; to bequeath
  • Yì, 轶: to excel; to surpass; to be scattered
  • Yì, 逸: to escape; leisurely; outstanding
  • Yí, 颐: cheek; lower cheek; chin
  • Yì, 驿: post horse; relay station
  • Yǐn, 尹: to administer; to oversee; to run
  • Yīn, 殷: dynasty name at the end the Shang dynasty, after their move to Yinxu 殷墟 in modern Henan province; flourishing; abundant
  • Yīn, 荫: shade
  • Yìng, 应: to answer; to respond; to comply with
  • Yìng, 映: to reflect (light); to shine; to project (an image onto a screen etc)
  • Yíng, 瀛: ocean
  • Yíng, 赢: to beat; to win; to profit
  • Yíng, 迎: to welcome; to meet; to face
  • Yǒng, 永: forever; always; perpetual
  • Yǒng, 泳: swimming; to swim
  • Yōu, 优: excellent; superior
  • Yòu, 佑: to assist; to protect
  • Yòu, 又: (once) again; also; both… and…
  • Yóu, 尤: outstanding; particularly, especially; a fault
  • Yōu, 悠: long or drawn out; remote in time or space; leisurely
  • Yǔ, 与: and; to give; together with
  • Yǔ, 予: to give
  • Yú, 于: to go; to take; sentence-final interrogative particle
  • Yú, 俞: yes (used by Emperor or ruler); OK; to accede
  • Yǔ, 俣: big
  • Yù, 喻: to describe sth as; an analogy; a simile
  • Yǔ, 屿: islet
  • Yù, 彧: accomplished; elegant
  • Yú, 愉: pleased
  • Yù, 昱: bright light
  • Yú, 榆: elm
  • Yù, 毓: (archaic) to give birth to a child; to rear
  • Yú, 渝: short name for Chongqing 重慶|重庆[Chong2 qing4]; old name of Jialing river 嘉陵江[Jia1 ling2 jiang1] in Sichuan
  • Yù, 煜: brilliant; glorious
  • Yù, 玉: jade
  • Yú, 瑜: excellence; luster of gems
  • Yǔ, 羽: feather; 5th note in pentatonic scale
  • Yù, 聿: (arch. introductory particle); then; and then
  • Yù, 育: to have children; to raise or bring up; to educate
  • Yù, 誉: to praise; to acclaim; reputation
  • Yù, 谕: order (from above)
  • Yù, 豫: happy; carefree; at one’s ease
  • Yù, 郁: elegant; dense (growth); melancholy
  • Yù, 钰: treasure; hard metal
  • Yǔ, 雨: rain
  • Yú, 鱼: fish
  • Yuán, 元: the Yuan or Mongol dynasty (1279-1368); currency unit (esp. Chinese yuan); first
  • Yuán, 员: person; employee; member
  • Yuàn, 愿: honest; prudent; to hope
  • Yuán, 沅: Yuan river in Guizhou and Hunan
  • Yuán, 缘: cause; reason; karma
  • Yuán, 袁: long robe (old)
  • Yuè, 粤: Cantonese; short name for Guangdong 廣東|广东[Guang3 dong1]
  • Yuē, 约: to make an appointment; to invite; approximately
  • Yuè, 越: generic word for peoples or states of south China or south Asia at different historical periods; to exceed; to climb over
  • Yuè, 阅: to inspect; to review; to read
  • Yún, 云: (classical) to say; cloud
  • Yǔn, 允: just; fair; to permit
  • Yún, 匀: even; well-distributed; uniform
  • Yún, 昀: sun light; used in personal name
  • Yún, 耘: to weed
  • Yùn, 运: to move; to transport; to use
  • Yún, 鋆: gold
  • Yùn, 韫: contain

Chinese Last Names Beginning with the Letter Y

  • Yá, 牙: tooth; ivory
  • Yà, 亚: Asia; Asian
  • Yán, 严: tight; stern
  • Yán, 岩: cliff; rock
  • Yán, 延: to prolong; to extend
  • Yán, 言: to speak; to say
  • Yán, 闫: village gate; variant of Yan
  • Yán, 阎: gate of village
  • Yán, 颜: color; countenance
  • Yàn, 晏: late; quiet
  • Yān, 燕: swallow
  • Yān, 鄢: name of a feudal state
  • Yáng, 扬: hurl; to raise
  • Yáng, 杨: poplar
  • Yáng, 羊: sheep
  • Yáng, 阳: positive; sun
  • Yāng, 央: beg; center
  • Yáo, 姚: Yao
  • Yáo, 尧: emperor Yao
  • Yāo, 要: demand; ask
  • Yè, 叶: leaf; page
  • Yě, 冶: smelt
  • Yí, 仪: apparatus; rites
  • Yì, 义: justice; righteousness
  • Yì, 弋: to shoot
  • Yì, 易: change; easy
  • Yī, 伊: he; she
  • Yī, 依: according to; depend on
  • Yī, 衣: clothes; gown
  • Yín, 银: silver
  • Yìn, 印: stamp; seal
  • Yǐn, 尹: to rule
  • Yīn, 殷: dark red; flourishing
  • Yīn, 阴: overcast; Yin
  • Yìng, 应: ought; to answer
  • Yīng, 英: English; brave
  • Yǒng, 永: forever; always
  • Yōng, 拥: gather round; rush in
  • Yōng, 雍: harmonious
  • Yóu, 尤: outstanding; particularly
  • Yóu, 游: to walk; to tour
  • Yóu, 由: follow; from
  • Yú, 于: in; at
  • Yú, 余: extra; surplus
  • Yú, 俞: accede
  • Yú, 虞: forewarned; peace
  • Yú, 鱼: fish
  • Yù, 喻: allegory
  • Yù, 玉: jade
  • Yù, 蔚: Artemisia japonica; luxuriant
  • Yù, 谷: grain; corn
  • Yù, 郁: elegant; dense
  • Yǔ, 宇: room; universe
  • Yǔ, 庾: name of a mountain
  • Yǔ, 禹: name of an emperor
  • Yū, 於: at; in; to; from
  • Yuán, 元: dollar; primary
  • Yuán, 原: former; original
  • Yuán, 员: person; employee
  • Yuán, 袁: long robe
  • Yuàn, 苑: park
  • Yuǎn, 远: far; distant
  • Yuè, 岳: mountain; wife’s father
  • Yún, 云: to say; cloud

About This List

I have made similar lists of Chinese names for all the letters of the alphabet from A to Z. The only letters missing are those that don’t appear as initials in Chinese. 

About Arimo Travels

My website, Arimo Travels, started as a hub for sustainable travel guides. In 2026, I announced that I would stop updating the site. However, I enjoy working on these lists of names from different countries, so I continue to add them quietly.

To some people, spending hours working with Excel spreadsheets and lists might sound incredibly boring. However, I find it very engaging and a great way to unwind after my much more demanding day job as a psychologist.

Besides these lists of Chinese given names and surnames, I have created similar lists for names from many other countries. You can find them all on the Names Around the World page.

When this site still focused on traveling, I wrote one blog post about my past travels in China.