Home βΊ Baby Names Directory βΊ Yates
π Yates
β Boy
How to Pronounce Yates
Pronounced YAYTS
π Hear it /ΛjeΙͺts/ High β§ copy
Meaning: From the English surname Yates β from Old English geat, 'a gate'; 'one who dwells by the gates; a gatekeeper' Medium β§ copy
In 30 seconds: By the gates: Yates is an English surname β 'a gatekeeper; one by the gates'. Crisp, modern, and warm (said 'YAYTS').
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Meaning From the English surname Yates β from Old English geat, 'a gate'; 'one who dwells by the gates; a gatekeeper'
U.S. rank (2025) #6434 β Falling
2025 U.S. births 14 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year 1921
Total births (all-time) β 503
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Shop mom essentials Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data peak 2024 1914 2025 U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data .
History & Origin Yates comes from the English surname Yates β from Old English geat , 'a gate' (the plural gates ) β 'one who dwells by the gates of a town, or a gatekeeper'. A crisp, modern surname-name (the poet W. B. Yeats shares the sound, in a different spelling; said 'YAYTS'; nickname Yate).
It registers thinly in records. Rare, by-the-gates at the root, and crisp.
Did you know? Yates means 'one who dwells by the gates; a gatekeeper' (Old English geat, 'a gate') β a crisp, modern surname-name (the poet W. B. Yeats shares the sound; said 'YAYTS').
Overall data confidence 62%
References β Yates β surname etymology
Variations Yeats Gates Yeates
Nicknames β
Famous Bearers Famous bearers coming soon. If you like Yatesβ¦ Gates β a kin 'gate' surname boys' name Wells β another plural-surname boys' name Niles β shares the -es ending Styles β the same surname-name feel Welles β shares Yates's English roots Frequently Asked What does the name Yates mean? Yates is an English surname, 'one who dwells by the gates; a gatekeeper'.
How do you pronounce Yates? It's said YAYTS /ΛjeΙͺts/ β one syllable.
Is Yates a boy or girl name? Yates is a boy's name.
How popular is Yates? Yates is a very rare name in the U.S.
