Holding steady.
Popularity of Yancey since 1894
Babies named Yancey per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1971, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Yancey's real moment was 1894.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 5 |
| 1900s | 5 |
| 1910s | 56 |
| 1920s | 73 |
| 1930s | 45 |
| 1940s | 62 |
| 1950s | 69 |
| 1960s | 260 |
| 1970s | 385 |
| 1980s | 219 |
| 1990s | 169 |
| 2000s | 112 |
| 2010s | 36 |
| 2020s | 7 |
Meaning & origin
Yancey is a rare given name that emerged in the United States at the end of the 19th century. Its earliest recorded use was in 1894, which also marked its peak year of usage, though even then it was extremely uncommon. The name has never ranked among the top 1000 names for any year, and its trajectory has remained stable at a very low frequency. Yancey is primarily transferred from the English surname, and it reflects a pattern of American parents adopting surnames as first names. Given its rarity, Yancey offers a distinctive choice for those seeking a name with historical roots but minimal modern usage.
Yancey originated as an English surname, likely a variant of Yance or Yancy, possibly derived from a place name or a pet form of a personal name like John. Its use as a given name is primarily in the United States, appearing in records from the late 19th century onward, though it has never been common.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Yancy
Sibling names for Yancey
Names that share Yancey's style, for a brother or sister.
