Yanitza
A feminine name of modern Bulgarian origin meaning "young girl".
Name Census estimates that about 625 living Americans carry the first name Yanitza. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Yanitza today is around 22 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Yanitza births was 2008 (45 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Yanitza. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
625
~ 1 in 548,407 Americans
Peak year
2008
45 babies that year
Average age
22
years old
2023 SSA rank
#11,111
Tracked since 1978
Popularity
Yanitza: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Yanitza from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 270 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Yanitza by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Yanitza during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Yanitzas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 5 states and territories. California, Arizona, Texas recorded the most babies named Yanitza, while New York, Florida, Texas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 25 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Yanitza
The name Yanitza is believed to have originated from the Bulgarian language and culture, with its roots dating back to the 9th century AD. It is derived from the Slavic root "yan," which means "grace" or "favor." In Bulgarian, the name is often spelled as "Яница" or "Яница."
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Yanitza can be found in ancient Bulgarian manuscripts and chronicles from the 10th century. These texts reference a noble woman named Yanitza, who was known for her beauty and grace. However, details about her life and accomplishments are scarce.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Yanitza gained popularity among the Bulgarian nobility and aristocracy. It was often associated with women of high social standing and virtue. In the 14th century, a renowned Bulgarian poet and scholar named Yanitza Radeva wrote several influential works that explored the themes of love, nature, and spirituality.
In the 16th century, a Bulgarian revolutionary named Yanitza Georgieva played a crucial role in the resistance against the Ottoman Empire. She is celebrated as a symbol of courage and patriotism in Bulgarian history. Records indicate that she was born in 1528 and died in 1612.
Another notable figure with the name Yanitza was a Bulgarian artist and painter who lived during the 19th century. Yanitza Ivanova was renowned for her vibrant landscapes and portraits, capturing the beauty of Bulgarian culture and traditions. She was born in 1825 and passed away in 1901.
In more recent times, the name Yanitza has continued to be popular in Bulgaria and among the Bulgarian diaspora around the world. One prominent example is Yanitza Muradova, a Bulgarian opera singer who gained international acclaim for her powerful performances in the late 20th century. She was born in 1950 and continued to perform until her retirement in the early 2000s.
While the name Yanitza has its roots in Bulgarian culture, it has also gained recognition in other Slavic countries and regions. However, its usage and popularity have remained largely concentrated within the Bulgarian community, where it continues to be a cherished and meaningful name, carrying a rich cultural heritage.
People
Yanitza + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Yanitza as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with Y
Other first names starting with Y with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Yanitza: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Yanitza?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 625 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Yanitza going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 548,407 US residents.
Is Yanitza a common name?
We classify Yanitza as "Very Rare". It ranks above 86.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 638 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Yanitza most popular?
The single biggest year for Yanitza was 2008, when 45 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Yanitza is about 22 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Yanitza a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Yanitza in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.