Yahya is a masculine given name of Arabic origin, derived from the Hebrew name Yohanan, which means "Yahweh is gracious" or "God is merciful." It is also the Arabic form of the biblical name John, and is widely used in the Arab world and among Muslims.

The name Yahya has its roots in the Semitic languages, with similar spellings and pronunciations found in various ancient texts and religious scriptures. In the Quran, Yahya is mentioned as the name of John the Baptist, who was a prophet and the forerunner of Jesus Christ in the Christian tradition.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Yahya dates back to the 7th century AD, when it was borne by Yahya ibn Abi Kathir, a prominent Islamic scholar and hadith narrator from Kufa, Iraq, who lived between 629 and 738 AD.

Throughout history, several notable figures have carried the name Yahya. One of the most famous was Yahya ibn Adi, a 10th-century Arab philosopher, mathematician, and translator from Basra, Iraq, who lived from 893 to 974 AD. He is renowned for his contributions to the fields of logic, physics, and metaphysics.

Another notable figure was Yahya al-Barmaki, a member of the influential Barmakid family and a vizier (minister) during the Abbasid Caliphate in the 8th century AD. He served under the famous Caliph Harun al-Rashid and was known for his wisdom and administrative skills.

In the 12th century, Yahya al-Nahwi was a renowned Arab grammarian and linguist from Mosul, Iraq, who lived from 1098 to 1180 AD. He made significant contributions to the study of Arabic grammar and is considered one of the most influential scholars in this field.

Another famous bearer of the name was Yahya ibn Mahmud al-Wasiti, a 9th-century Persian mathematician and astronomer from Baghdad, who lived from 789 to 847 AD. He is credited with developing new techniques for solving algebraic equations and making advancements in the field of trigonometry.

Over the centuries, the name Yahya has continued to be popular among Muslim communities, particularly in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia, where it is often given to honor the biblical figure John the Baptist or to express gratitude towards God.