French Names that Start with Y

Here is a list of French names that start with Y. The page includes French names for boys and girls from different eras, as well as last names.

The list is divided into several sections. The modern names are baby names and other names popular in the 2000s, while the traditional names are those common among people born in the 1900s.

The names come from data provided by the French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies, with a few additions from Wikipedia, Reddit and other sources. All of the names also appear in my Random French Name Generator.

• Traditional Male French Names that Start with Y
• Modern Male French Names that Start with Y
• Traditional Female French Names that Start with Y
• Modern Female French Names that Start with Y
• French Last Names that Start with Y

French Male Names that Start with Y (Traditional)

• Yann
• Yannick
• Yoann
• Yohan
• Yohann
• Yvan
• Yves
• Yvon

Popular 2000s French Male Baby Names Starting with Y

• Yanis
• Yann
• Youssef

French Female Names Popular in the 1900s, Starting with Y

• Yolande
• Yvette
• Yvonne

Modern French Girl Names from the 2000s – Letter Y

• Yasmine

List of Common French Last Names with Letter Y

There are virtually no common French surnames that start with Y. This is mainly due to the way the letter developed in French phonetics and spelling.

Historically, “Y” was rarely used at the start of native French words. In Old French and Latin, words that began with the “y” sound were usually written with I (as in Yves, from Ivo). When Y does appear, it often comes from Greek or foreign origins — for example, Yvan (Slavic), Youssef (Arabic), or York (English).

Because French surnames mostly formed during the Middle Ages from local first names, places, or trades, and few of those began with Y, there was little opportunity for Y-initial surnames to develop. Today, the rare exceptions—like Yver, Yvon, or Yvelin—are derived from first names or regional variations rather than distinct French roots.

About this List

I have made similar lists of French names for all the letters of the alphabet from A to Z:

• Names that Start with A
• Names that Start with B
• Names that Start with C
• Names that Start with D
• Names that Start with E
• Names that Start with F
• Names that Start with G
• Names that Start with H
• Names that Start with I
• Names that Start with J
• Names that Start with K
• Names that Start with L
• Names that Start with M
• Names that Start with N
• Names that Start with O
• Names that Start with P
• Names that Start with Q
• Names that Start with R
• Names that Start with S
• Names that Start with T
• Names that Start with U
• Names that Start with V
• Names that Start with W
• Names that Start with X
• Names that Start with Y
• Names that Start with Z

About Arimo Travels

My website, Arimo Travels, mostly focuses on sustainable travel, although I do write about other topics related to cultures and randomness as well.