Boy Dog Names That Start With Y

  1. Yasuke
    • Origin:

      Japanese, meaning unknown
    • Description:

      Yasuke was the first African samurai in Japan, who served as a retainer under Oda Nobunaga. He arrived in Japan in 1579 with Portuguese Jesuits and Italian Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano. Nobunaga took a special interest in Yasuke, who joined his force.
  2. Yehonatan
    • Origin:

      Variation of Jonathan, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "gift of Jehovah"
    • Description:

      Jonathan variation that is common among Jewish baby boys in Israel.
  3. Yale
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "fertile upland"
    • Description:

      An appellation that couldn't be more Ivy League or sound less Welsh. The name of the University is taken from the surname of college benefactor Elihu Yale. In the movie Manhattan, Yale Pollack is the name of Woody Allen's best friend. The Hebrew Yael is not related.
  4. Yann
    • Origin:

      French/Breton variation of John
    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"
    • Description:

      This might be a better choice than the similarly pronounced Jan, to avoid gender confusion.
  5. Yago
    • Yuma
      • Origin:

        North American Indian
      • Meaning:

        "son of a chief"
      • Description:

        The a ending gives it a feminine feel.
    • Yancey
      • Origin:

        Native American
      • Meaning:

        "yankee"
      • Description:

        A fancy TV western name that didn't catch on like fellow cowboys Luke and Josh, but definitely has a certain amount of charm. It is also spelled Yancy, as in the 1950s series Yancy Derringer. It was first spotted in the Edna Ferber novel Cimarron, which became a popular movie.
    • Yeats
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "the gates"
      • Description:

        Admirers of the haunting works of esteemed Irish poet and playwright William Butler Yeats might consider this, especially as a middle name.
    • Yami
      • Origin:

        Japanese
      • Meaning:

        "dark"
      • Description:

        Featured in several anime series, including Black Clover and To Love-Ru.
    • Yuichi
      • Origin:

        Japanese
      • Meaning:

        "brave first-born son"
      • Description:

        An auspicious name for a first-born son with Japanese heritage. Some may be familiar with the name Yuichi from the anime series Kanon.
    • Yosemite
      • Origin:

        Native American tribal name
      • Meaning:

        "those who kill"
      • Description:

        The evocative name of one of our most beautiful national parks -- yes, but also the bombastic cartoon character, Yosemite Sam.
    • Yee
      • Origin:

        Chinese surname
      • Description:

        Yee is related to the surname Yu, a romanization of several Chinese characters. Yu is an ancient Chinese family name, one borne by the legendary Emperor Shun.
    • Yuto
      • Origin:

        Japanese
      • Meaning:

        "gentle person"
    • Yonatan
      • Origin:

        Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "gift of Jehovah"
      • Description:

        The Hebrew variation of Jonathan, occasionally heard in the US.
    • Yasu
      • Origin:

        Japanese
      • Meaning:

        "peaceful; flat"
    • Yudai
      • Origin:

        Japanese
      • Meaning:

        "brave man"