Yue
A Chinese unisex given name meaning "moon" or "jade".
Name Census estimates that about 214 living Americans carry the first name Yue. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 60.4% of registrations being female. The average person named Yue today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Yue births was 2021 (20 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Yue. 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
214
~ 1 in 1,601,656 Americans
Peak year
2021
20 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2021 SSA rank
#8,387
Tracked since 1982
Gender
Gender distribution for Yue
Yue is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 217 total registrations, 86 (39.6%) were male and 131 (60.4%) were female.
Yue as a male name
- Ranked #14,020 in 2021
- 5 male births in 2021
- Peak: 1993 (13 births)
Yue as a female name
- Ranked #8,387 in 2024
- 13 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2021 (15 births)
Popularity
Yue: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Yue from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 67 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Yue 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 Yue during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Yues live
Origin
Meaning and history of Yue
The name Yue has its origins in Chinese culture and language, with a history dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Chinese word 'yuè', which means 'moon' or 'moonlight'. The name is often associated with beauty, femininity, and grace, reflecting the serene and ethereal qualities of the moon.
In ancient Chinese literature and poetry, the moon has been a recurring symbol of longing, romance, and the passage of time. The name Yue has been mentioned in various classical texts, including the Book of Songs, one of the oldest existing collections of Chinese poetry. This association with literary tradition and cultural significance has contributed to the enduring appeal of the name.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Yue dates back to the Spring and Autumn period (771-476 BC), when a renowned Chinese philosopher named Yue Zheng lived. He was a prominent figure in the state of Qi and is remembered for his contributions to the development of early Chinese philosophy.
Throughout Chinese history, several notable individuals have borne the name Yue. For instance, Yue Fei (1103-1142) was a celebrated military general during the Southern Song dynasty, known for his loyalty and bravery in defending the country against the Jurchen invaders. His legacy has been immortalized in various literary works and folk tales, making him a cultural icon.
Another notable figure was Yue Xuan (692-755), a renowned Tang dynasty poet and scholar. Her poems were praised for their elegance and depth, and she was highly regarded for her literary achievements during a time when few women were recognized in the literary realm.
In the realm of arts and entertainment, Yue Hua (1768-1839) was a prominent Qing dynasty painter renowned for her intricate and delicate depictions of birds and flowers. Her works are considered masterpieces of traditional Chinese painting and are highly valued by art collectors worldwide.
Yue Jiaying (1922-2020) was a celebrated Chinese writer and playwright who gained recognition for her novels and plays that explored the complexities of modern Chinese society and the struggles faced by women. Her works have been widely translated and have had a significant impact on contemporary Chinese literature.
These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Yue, a name deeply rooted in Chinese culture and tradition, reflecting the beauty and significance of the moon in various aspects of life.
People
Yue + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Yue 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
Yue: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Yue?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 214 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Yue 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 1,601,656 US residents.
Is Yue a common name?
We classify Yue as "Very Rare". It ranks above 75.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 217 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Yue most popular?
The single biggest year for Yue was 2021, when 20 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Yue is about 17 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Yue a female name?
Yes, 60.4% of people registered as Yue 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.