Yna
Of unknown origin and meaning, possibly a variant of Ina.
Name Census estimates that about 11 living Americans carry the first name Yna. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Yna today is around 22 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Yna births was 2006 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Yna. 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 Yna. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
11
~ 1 in 31,159,485 Americans
Peak year
2006
6 babies that year
Average age
22
years old
2006 SSA rank
#17,101
Tracked since 2002
Popularity
Yna: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Yna 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 Yna during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0 | 11 | 11 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Yna
The name Yna has its roots in the ancient Celtic culture, originating from the Brittonic language spoken in parts of what is now Great Britain and France. It is derived from the Proto-Celtic word "ynnu," which means "to walk" or "to journey." The earliest recorded use of the name dates back to the 5th century AD, when it appeared in ancient Welsh manuscripts.
In Welsh mythology, Yna was the name of a minor goddess associated with travel and exploration. She was often depicted as a young woman carrying a staff, symbolizing her role as a guide for those embarking on long journeys. The name became popular among the Welsh people, who valued the virtues of wanderlust and adventure.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Yna was Yna ap Cadwgan, a Welsh prince who lived in the 11th century. He was known for his bravery in defending his lands against Norman invaders. Another notable figure from this era was Yna ferch Gruffydd, a Welsh noblewoman and patron of the arts, who lived in the late 12th century.
During the Middle Ages, the name Yna spread to other parts of Europe, particularly in areas with strong Celtic influences. In Ireland, the name took the form of "Una," and was borne by several notable figures, including Una Ní Dhubhagáin, a 15th-century Irish poet and scholar.
In Scotland, the name Yna was sometimes used as a variant of the more common name "Iona," which was derived from the same Celtic root. One of the most famous bearers of this name was Iona McClelland, a 16th-century Scottish noblewoman and supporter of the Protestant Reformation.
As the centuries passed, the name Yna became less common, but it continued to be used sporadically throughout Europe. In the 18th century, Yna von Bülow was a German writer and philosopher who advocated for women's education and equality. In the 19th century, Yna Barkworth was an English actress and playwright known for her performances in Shakespearean plays.
While the name Yna may not be as widely used today as it once was, its rich history and connection to the ancient Celtic culture continue to fascinate scholars and historians alike. The name's meaning of "journey" and "exploration" serves as a reminder of the adventurous spirit that has driven human civilization throughout the ages.
People
Yna + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Yna 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
Yna: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Yna?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 11 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Yna 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 Yna a common name?
We classify Yna 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 Yna most popular?
The single biggest year for Yna was 2006, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Yna is about 22 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 Yna in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Yna a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Yna 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.
Is Yna still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Yna 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 Yna 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 are named Yna?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.