Yates

♂ Boy

Pronounced YAYTS /ˈjeɪts/High

Meaning: From the English surname Yates — from Old English geat, 'a gate'; 'one who dwells by the gates; a gatekeeper'Medium

In 30 seconds: By the gates: Yates is an English surname — 'a gatekeeper; one by the gates'. Crisp, modern, and warm (said 'YAYTS').

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Origin MediumEnglish

MeaningFrom the English surname Yates — from Old English geat, 'a gate'; 'one who dwells by the gates; a gatekeeper'

U.S. rank (2024)#5866 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births16 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1921

Total births (all-time)≈ 503

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Yates comes from the English surname Yates — from Old English geat, 'a gate' (the plural gates) — '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') — a crisp, modern surname-name (the poet W. B. Yeats shares the sound; said 'YAYTS').

Overall data confidence 62%

References — Yates — surname etymology

Variations

YeatsGatesYeates

Nicknames

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If you like Yates…

Gates— a kin 'gate' surname boys' name

Wells— another plural-surname boys' name

Niles— shares the -es ending

Styles— the same surname-name feel

Welles— shares Yates's English roots

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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 /ˈjeɪts/ — 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.