Declining since 2019, #11,932 for girls today.
Popularity of Yani since 1993
Babies named Yani per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 28 | 5 |
| 2000s | 83 | 35 |
| 2010s | 126 | 37 |
| 2020s | 85 | 34 |
Meaning & origin
Yani is a contemporary name that first appeared in U.S. Social Security records in 1993. It has remained relatively rare, ranking 11,932 in 2025 with an incidence of 1 in 229,610 newborns. The name experienced a modest peak in 2020 before entering a declining trend since 2019. As a modern coinage, Yani does not have a traditional etymology but likely derives from related names like Yanni or Yanina. Its appeal lies in its simple, melodic sound and unisex nature, fitting a broader trend of short 'Y' names.
Yani is a modern name that emerged as a variation or diminutive of names such as Yanni (itself a Greek variant of John), or as a short form of Yanina. It may also draw on the fashionable 'Ya-' sound appearing in other contemporary names. Its rise in the United States from the 1990s onward reflects a pattern of creating new names by altering familiar ones.
“Yani” around the world
Where Yani lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
40
babies in 2024
Quebec
7
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Yanni
Sibling names for Yani
Names that share Yani's style, for a brother or sister.
