Yidi
A unisex name of Chinese origin meaning "enlightened virtue".
Name Census estimates that about 11 living Americans carry the first name Yidi. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Yidi today is around 5 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Yidi births was 2022 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Yidi. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Yidi. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
11
~ 1 in 31,159,485 Americans
Peak year
2022
6 babies that year
Average age
5
years old
2022 SSA rank
#12,272
Tracked since 2020
Popularity
Yidi: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Yidi 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 Yidi during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 11 | 0 | 11 |
Geography
Where Yidis live
Origin
Meaning and history of Yidi
The given name Yidi originates from the Yoruba language, which is spoken by the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria and neighboring areas of Benin and Togo. Its roots can be traced back to at least the 13th century, during the height of the Oyo Empire in West Africa.
Yidi is derived from the Yoruba word "idi," which means "root" or "foundation." The name likely held significance in Yoruba culture, symbolizing strength, resilience, and a connection to one's heritage and ancestry.
While there are no definitive records of the name appearing in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it is possible that it was used within the oral traditions and folklore of the Yoruba people, which have been passed down for generations.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Yidi can be found in the 18th century, when it was borne by Yidi Ogunmola, a prominent Yoruba warrior and military leader who played a crucial role in the defense of the Oyo Empire against invading forces.
Another notable figure in history with the name Yidi was Yidi Opeyemi, a renowned Yoruba artist and sculptor who lived in the 19th century. His intricate wood carvings and sculptures, depicting scenes from Yoruba mythology and daily life, are now considered invaluable cultural artifacts and are displayed in museums around the world.
In the 20th century, Yidi Gbadegesin, a Yoruba philosopher and academic, made significant contributions to the field of African philosophy. Born in 1925, he was instrumental in promoting and preserving Yoruba cultural traditions and values through his writings and teachings.
Yidi Ariyo, born in 1945, was a celebrated Yoruba musician and singer. Her powerful voice and lyrical storytelling helped to keep the rich musical heritage of the Yoruba people alive and relevant in contemporary times.
Lastly, Yidi Ogunseye, born in 1960, is a prominent Yoruba author and playwright. Her works, which often explore themes of identity, tradition, and the complexities of modern Yoruba society, have garnered critical acclaim and have been translated into multiple languages.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Yidi, reflecting its deep roots and cultural significance within the Yoruba tradition.
People
Yidi + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Yidi 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
Yidi: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Yidi?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 11 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Yidi 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 31,159,485 US residents.
Is Yidi a common name?
We classify Yidi as "Very Rare". It ranks above 30.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 11 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Yidi most popular?
The single biggest year for Yidi was 2022, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Yidi is about 5 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Yidi in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Yidi a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Yidi in the SSA data are male. 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.
Is Yidi still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Yidi in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Yidi can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Yidi?
If you just want to know how many people share the name Yidi, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.