Dog Names That Start With Y

  1. 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.
  2. Yehonatan
    • Origin:

      Variation of Jonathan, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "gift of Jehovah"
    • Description:

      Jonathan variation that is common among Jewish baby boys in Israel.
  3. 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.
  4. 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."
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. Yuma
    • Origin:

      North American Indian
    • Meaning:

      "son of a chief"
    • Description:

      The a ending gives it a feminine feel.
  8. 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.
  9. Yami
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "dark"
    • Description:

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

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "reliable"
    • Description:

      An appealing, usable Japanese choice, since there are so many familiar ori/ory-ending Western names.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. Yadira
    • Origin:

      Spanish, meaning unknown
    • Description:

      Feminine name consistently popular in the Latino community.
  14. Yetta
    • Origin:

      Yiddish
    • Meaning:

      "light"
    • Description:

      Too close to yenta.
  15. Yen
    • Origin:

      Vietnamese
    • Meaning:

      "calm, peaceful"
    • Description:

      Also spelled Yên, this simple Vietnamese name has a serene sound and meaning.
  16. Ynes
    • Yuzu
      • Yitty
        • Origin:

          Diminutive of Yetta, Yiddish
        • Meaning:

          "light"
        • Description:

          One of those cute Yiddish nicknames that feel charmingly vintage when borne by young Jewish girls today. These names, such as Gitty and Malkie and Faigy, are typically reserved for the most religious Jewish communities.
      • Yuto
        • Origin:

          Japanese
        • Meaning:

          "gentle person"
      • 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.