Yuriy

♂ Boy

Pronounced YOO-ree /ˈjuː.ri/Medium

Meaning: The Ukrainian and Russian form of George, from Greek Georgios, 'farmer; worker of the earth'. Yuriy has been a princely and popular name in the Slavic world for centuries, and is the standard Ukrainian transliteration.Medium

In 30 seconds: The Slavic George: Yuriy means 'farmer; earth-worker' and has been carried by princes (said 'YOO-ree').

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Origin HighUkrainian, Russian

MeaningThe Ukrainian and Russian form of George, from Greek Georgios, 'farmer; worker of the earth'. Yuriy has been a princely and popular name in the Slavic world for centuries, and is the standard Ukrainian transliteration.

U.S. rank (2024)#14173 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2001

Total births (all-time)≈ 202

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

Yuriy is the Ukrainian and Russian form of George, which comes from Greek Georgios, 'worker of the earth'. It entered Slavic use through the Church and became a princely name in Kyivan Rus, with Yuriy Dolgorukiy among its bearers. The spelling Yuriy is the standard Ukrainian transliteration; Yuri and Iurii are also seen (said 'YOO-ree').

It appears only rarely for boys in the U.S. in this spelling. Rare here, deeply established in Ukraine and Russia.

Did you know? Yuriy is the Ukrainian and Russian George — a name worn by medieval princes and, in the twentieth century, by the first person to fly in space, Yuri Gagarin.

Overall data confidence 58%

References — Yuriy — Ukrainian/Russian form of George; Greek Georgios, 'earth-worker'

Variations

YuriIuriiGeorgiy

Nicknames

YuraYu

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Yuriy…

Yuri— the shorter spelling of the same name

George— the English form of the same root

Dmitri— a like Slavic boys' classic

Nikolai— a like Eastern European pick

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Yuriy mean?

Yuriy is the Ukrainian and Russian form of George, from Greek Georgios, 'farmer; worker of the earth'.

How do you pronounce Yuriy?

It's said YOO-ree /ˈjuː.ri/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Yuriy a boy or girl name?

Yuriy is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Yuriy?

Yuriy is a very rare name for boys in the U.S., though common in Ukraine.