Girl Dog Names That Start With Y

  1. Yara
    • Origin:

      Arabic, Persian, Brazilian, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "friend, helper; strength; water nymph; honeycomb"
    • Description:

      The multicultural Yara is a sweet but substantial choice that could make a more unusual take on Sara and also work in multiple languages Popular in Portugal, The Netherlands, and Switzerland, familiar in the UK and France, it entered the US Top 1000 in 2017 and has been climbing the charts ever since.
  2. Yvette
    • Origin:

      French, feminine of Yves
    • Meaning:

      "yew tree"
    • Description:

      This French name has the elegance of other '-ette' names such as Colette and is a botanical name without being too obvious about it.
  3. Yvonne
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "yew wood"
    • Description:

      Peaking in the 1950s, Yvonne has now dropped out of the Top 1000 in 2003 and doesn't look set to return soon, although its rare Y initial might endear it to some. Yvaine, from Neil Gaiman's Stardust, has more modern appeal.
  4. Yuna
    • Origin:

      Japanese, Breton, Korean, Chinese
    • Description:

      An attractive, widely appealing, multicultural option. KPOP singer Yuna may be attracting some attention to her name.
  5. Yuri
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "lily"
    • Description:

      Most familiar to American ears as the Russian variation of George. Not recommended for a daughter.
  6. Yaretzi
    • Origin:

      Nahuatl, Aztec
    • Meaning:

      "you will always be loved"
    • Description:

      This unusual name from the Nahuatl or Aztec language has one of the best meanings around. It sprang onto the US popularity list in 2006 and made a brief appearance in the Top 300 before sliding down a bit. It's popular in Mexico and with US Americans of Latino or Hispanic heritage, hitting on two big girl name trends in those communities: Ya- beginnings and -i endings.
  7. Yuki
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "snow"
    • Description:

      An appealing Asian name with a nickname feel.
  8. Yui
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "superior garment"
    • Description:

      Very popular girls' name in Japan not quite as easy to transport westward as the also-popular Rin.
  9. Yolanda
    • Origin:

      Spanish from Greek
    • Meaning:

      "violet flower"
    • Description:

      Bold and distinctive, Yolanda is a floral name that doesn't sound frilly or delicate. Ultimately deriving from the Greek words ioles meaning "violet" and anthos meaning "flower", it appears in a variety of forms internationally, including Jolanda, Jolanta, Iolanthe, Iolanta, Iolanda, and Jolana.
  10. Yari
    • Origin:

      Spanish, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "gold"
    • Description:

      The derivation and meaning of the Hebrew or Spanish names for girls Yari may be uncertain, but the name might get more attention thanks to its similarity to Yara, which means butterfly and is becoming more popular for baby girls throughout the Spanish-speaking world.
  11. Ysabel
    • Origin:

      Spanish variation of Isabel
    • Description:

      Ysabel is the original spelling of this ever-more-popular name, though to English-speakers, the initial Y may confuse pronunciation.
  12. Ynez
    • Origin:

      Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "pure, virginal"
    • Description:

      Y is a very rare initial, and this feisty mini-name packs a double punch with its spiky final Z. Inez or Inez are the more familiar spellings of this chic name, which is related to Agnes and could be an interesting way to honor a relative with that name.
  13. Yareli
    • Origin:

      Native American, Spanish variation of Yara, Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "water lady; small butterfly"
    • Description:

      Possibly a derivative variation of Yara, a popular name in Spanish-speaking countries meaning butterfly, Yareli was given to more than 400 baby girls in the US last year.
  14. Yoko
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "good girl; ocean child"
    • Description:

      There are many in Japan, but for most Americans there's only one Yoko.
  15. Yaritza
    • Origin:

      Elaboration of Yara
    • Description:

      Variation of the name Yara—an Arabic name well-used in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries meaning "butterfly"—with the suffix from names like Maritza.
  16. Yumi
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "archery bow"
    • Description:

      This Japanese name is easily accessible to English speakers, and has a cool archery meaning. It first made the US charts in 1960, and was given to under 47 girls in 2022: still rare, but more popular than it's ever been before.
  17. Yomi
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "land of the dead"
    • Description:

      The Japanese word for the land of the dead. It's not quite Heaven nor Hell, although it more closely resembles the latter. It's also the name of a video game, which is likely why five baby girls were named Yomi one recent year.
  18. Yoli
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Yolanda, Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "violet flower"
    • Description:

      This perky Spanish nickname deserves to be more popular. Singer Michael Bublé recently used it as one of the middle names for his daughter Cielo, which may give Yoli a boost.
  19. Yaiza
    • Origin:

      Spanish place name
    • Description:

      Not strictly Spanish but Guanche, the original inhabitants of the Canary Islands, this place name became popular as a first in Spain via a trilogy by Alberto Vazquez Figueroa. The Guanche meaning of the place name is "one who shares equally."
  20. Yarrow
    • Origin:

      Botanical name, English
    • Meaning:

      "rough stream"
    • Description:

      Yarrow is a flowering herb that grows wild in Europe and North America, and has long been used in several Native American and European cultures as a healing plant. Named for the mythical god Achille, Yarrow is a symbol of enduring love.