Yen

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Yen

Pronounced yen /ˈjɛn/Medium

Meaning: Yen renders the Vietnamese name Yen, which can mean the swallow (the bird) and also carries the sense of 'calm' or 'peaceful'. It is a graceful feminine name in Vietnam.Medium

In 30 seconds: Yen is a Vietnamese name meaning the swallow bird, and also 'calm' or 'peaceful' (said 'yen'). It came to the U.S. with post-1975 Vietnamese families.

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Origin MediumVietnamese

MeaningYen renders the Vietnamese name Yen, which can mean the swallow (the bird) and also carries the sense of 'calm' or 'peaceful'. It is a graceful feminine name in Vietnam.

U.S. rank (2022)#17660 ↘ Falling

2022 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1982

Total births (all-time)≈ 564

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

Yen renders the Vietnamese given name, which can name the swallow, a graceful migrating bird, and also carries the sense of 'calm' or 'at peace'. The tones of Vietnamese are lost in the plain English spelling, but the gentle meaning remains.

In the United States it appears among Vietnamese-American families who arrived after 1975, staying rare in the national numbers - only a few dozen girls a year around its high near 1982. It reads as a heritage name carried from Vietnam.

Did you know? In Vietnam the swallow - yen - is a graceful, auspicious bird, and the name also evokes tranquility, a gentle wish for a daughter.

Overall data confidence 60%

References - Yen (Vietnamese) — Vietnamese 'yen' swallow; 'calm/peaceful'

Variations

YennYennyYenhYenneYenvi

Nicknames

YennyYeni

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Yen…

Mai— a fellow Vietnamese girls' name of similar era

Linh— another graceful Vietnamese heritage name

Thuy— a same-era Vietnamese-American girls' name

Lan— a like-used Vietnamese girls' name meaning 'orchid'

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Yen mean?

Yen is a Vietnamese name meaning the swallow bird, and also 'calm' or 'peaceful'.

How do you pronounce Yen?

It's said yen /ˈjɛn/ - one syllable; Vietnamese tones are lost in the plain spelling.

Is Yen a boy or girl name?

Yen is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Yen?

Yen is rare in the U.S., a heritage name among Vietnamese-American families.