Holding steady, #6,143 for boys today.
Popularity of Yates since 1914
Babies named Yates per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 54 |
| 1920s | 77 |
| 1930s | 65 |
| 1940s | 36 |
| 1950s | 17 |
| 1960s | 10 |
| 1970s | 11 |
| 1980s | 20 |
| 1990s | 7 |
| 2000s | 45 |
| 2010s | 102 |
| 2020s | 73 |
Meaning & origin
Yates is an English surname turned given name, carrying the topographic meaning of 'gates' or 'dweller at the gates.' According to Social Security data, Yates first appeared as a given name in 1914, reaching its peak rank of 6,143 in 1923, with a one-in-N incidence of 122,005. Its trajectory has been stable over the decades, never experiencing a major revival but also never fading entirely. The name retains a quiet, surname-as-first-name appeal, similar to other occupational or topographic names like Grant or Blake.
Yates is an English surname derived from the Old English word 'geat' (gate), often referring to someone who lived near the gates of a town or walled city. It originated as a topographic name and gradually transitioned into use as a given name, particularly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Yate
Variants: Yeates, Yate
Sibling names for Yates
Names that share Yates's style, for a brother or sister.
