Yahya

♂ Boy

Pronounced YAH-yah /ˈjɑː.jɑː/High

Meaning: Arabic form of John (Yohanan), from Hebrew Yochanan meaning 'God is gracious' or 'God has shown favor'; the Quranic name for John the Baptist, highly revered in IslamHigh

In 30 seconds: Yahya is the Arabic form of John — meaning 'God is gracious' — and the Quranic name of John the Baptist. One of Islam's most revered names, it carries profound spiritual depth.

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Origin HighArabic, Hebrew

MeaningArabic form of John (Yohanan), from Hebrew Yochanan meaning 'God is gracious' or 'God has shown favor'; the Quranic name for John the Baptist, highly revered in Islam

U.S. rank (2025)#616 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births455 boys (0.02% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2025

Total births (all-time)≈ 4,574

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Yahya is the Arabic form of the Hebrew Yochanan ('God is gracious'), the same root that gives English John, Spanish Juan, and French Jean. In the Quran, Yahya (Surah Maryam) is the name given to Zechariah's son by divine announcement — the prophet known in Christian tradition as John the Baptist. The name has been used across the Arab and Muslim world for fourteen centuries.

Yahya is among the most widely used boys' names in the Arab world and throughout Muslim communities globally. In the United States it has grown as Muslim American families name children after this deeply revered Quranic figure. It ranks in the U.S. top 400 boys' names and is growing.

Did you know? In the Quran, Yahya (John the Baptist) is described as having received wisdom as a child and as being 'chaste, a prophet, and of the righteous' — a uniquely exalted description making Yahya one of the most spiritually honored names in Islamic tradition.

Overall data confidence 97%

Behind the Name — Yahya — Arabic/Hebrew etymology and Quranic referenceU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

YehyaJohnYohanan

Nicknames

Yah

Famous Bearers

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If you like Yahya…

Ibrahim— another prominent Quranic prophet name (Abraham) with the same deep Islamic reverence

Zakariya— the Arabic form of Zechariah — Yahya's father in the Quran — from the same sacred narrative

Yusuf— Arabic form of Joseph, another primary Quranic prophet name with equal standing

Isa— Arabic form of Jesus — yet another Quranic prophet name with the same spiritual register

Frequently Asked

What does the name Yahya mean?

Yahya is the Arabic form of John, from Hebrew Yochanan meaning 'God is gracious.' It is the Quranic name of John the Baptist.

How do you pronounce Yahya?

It is said YAH-yah — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Yahya a boy or girl name?

Yahya is exclusively a boys' name.

How popular is Yahya?

Yahya ranks in the U.S. top 400 boys' names and is widely used across the Muslim world.