Rising since 1988, #2,387 for girls today.
Popularity of Yana since 1955
Babies named Yana per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 71 |
| 1960s | 61 |
| 1970s | 158 |
| 1980s | 118 |
| 1990s | 182 |
| 2000s | 668 |
| 2010s | 869 |
| 2020s | 543 |
Meaning & origin
Yana is a feminine name with Slavic and Hebrew roots, meaning 'God is gracious'. It has seen a steady rise in popularity since 1988, and in 2024 it reached its peak rank of 2,387 in the United States, with approximately 1 in 21,430 baby girls receiving the name. The name is most frequently given in Washington, New York, and California. Yana's global appeal is enhanced by its simplicity and cross-cultural resonance, particularly in Eastern Europe and India.
Yana is a feminine name with multiple origins. It is commonly considered a Slavic short form of the name Yana (from Latin Ioanna), derived from the Hebrew Yohanan meaning 'God is gracious'. In some contexts, it may also be a variant of Jana or a name of Indian origin meaning 'possessing a vehicle' or 'moving', from Sanskrit yāna. The name gained popularity across Eastern Europe and has been used in Russia, Bulgaria, and Serbia since the mid-20th century.
Where Yana is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Yana” around the world
Where Yana lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
25
babies in 2024
Ireland
4
babies in 2025
Quebec
6
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Yanka, Yanichka
Sibling names for Yana
Names that share Yana's style, for a brother or sister.
