Boy name
Yahya name meaning
“the prophet Yahya's name; associated with life”
Yahya is the name of the prophet Yahya and is associated with life. It comes through Arabic Yaḥyā and is used for boys in Türkiye. The Quran identifies Yahya as Zakariya's son, while the poet Yahya Kemal Beyatlı provides a Turkish literary association.
- Gender
- ♂ Boy
- Origin
- Arabic
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity
- In TÜİK lists
What does Yahya mean?
The prophet Yahya's name; associated with life
In Turkish: Yahya peygamberin adı; yaşamla ilişkilendirilen ad
Yahya names the prophet who is Zechariah's son in Islamic tradition and corresponds to John the Baptist in Christianity. In Turkish literature, it is associated with Yahya Kemal Beyatlı and the Ottoman poet Şeyhülislam Yahya. Its connection with Zekeriya comes directly from the prophetic narrative.
How popular is Yahya?
Official figures: TÜİK newborn name lists (2018–2025, the top 30 for Türkiye and each of the 81 provinces every year) and the most common names in the population.
- Province lists
- 35provinces
Where is Yahya in the top 30?
35 provinces · the latest year each province listed it
Double names with Yahya
Double names counted as one name in TÜİK newborn lists (all years and provinces combined).
Source: TurkStat (TÜİK), Address-Based Population Registration System. The lists cover the top 30 names per year, sex and province; no official counts are published for less common names. All statistics →
Why is Yahya popular?
Yahya offers an established prophetic association and a short, repeating sound pattern. It stayed outside the national top thirty in the supplied years.
Origin of the name Yahya
It comes from Arabic Yaḥyā, the Quranic name of Zechariah's son. Although associated with the Arabic verb 'to live,' its earlier linguistic origin is uncertain.
| Linguistic origin | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Naming tradition | Islamic |
| In Islamic history | Names found in the Quran, Names of prophets |
| Is Yahya in the Quran? | Yes, as a name · يحيى · 19:7Yahya occurs in the Quran as the proper name of Zakariya's son and is addressed in Surah Maryam. |
| Starts with | Y · Ya |
Names are shared across communities. Where a name is common says nothing certain about any one person’s background, faith or origin.
Double names with Yahya
Double-name ideas built from names in our dictionary, with the meaning of each name.
-
Yahya Bünyamin
Meaning of each name
- Yahya: the prophet Yahya's name; associated with life
- Bünyamin: son of the right hand
-
Abidin Yahya
Meaning of each name
- Abidin: worshippers; those devoted to worship
- Yahya: the prophet Yahya's name; associated with life
-
Yahya Memet
Meaning of each name
- Yahya: the prophet Yahya's name; associated with life
- Memet: praised, worthy of praise
-
Dindar Yahya
Meaning of each name
- Dindar: devout, observant in religion
- Yahya: the prophet Yahya's name; associated with life
-
Yahya Çelebi
Meaning of each name
- Yahya: the prophet Yahya's name; associated with life
- Çelebi: cultivated, courteous and refined person
-
Vahap Yahya
Meaning of each name
- Vahap: generous giver; bestower of gifts
- Yahya: the prophet Yahya's name; associated with life
Double names found in TÜİK’s newborn lists: Muhammed Yahya, Ahmet Yahya, Ali Yahya.
How to pronounce Yahya
| Syllables | 2 · 5 letters · 5-letter boy names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /jahja/ |
| Ottoman Turkish | یحیی |
| Arabic | يحيى |
Is Yahya a boy’s name?
Yes, Yahya is used mostly as a boy’s name. See all boy names.
Yahya appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists. See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
Spellings and similar names
Names that sound like Yahya
Names with related meanings
Famous people named Yahya
- Yahya Kemal Beyatlı · b. 1884
- Yahya Galip Kargı · b. 1874
- Yahya Baş · b. 1952
- Yahya Gür · b. 1939
- Yahya Ömer Eryetkin · b. 1901
- Yahya Sezai Uzay · b. 1879
- Yahya Şimşek · b. 1947
- Yahya Akengin · b. 1946
- Yahya Akman · b. 1966
- Yahya Alpay · b. 1920
- Yahya Aydın · b. 1967
- Yahya Başaran · b. 2009
FAQ about the name Yahya
What is the meaning of Yahya?
Yahya means “the prophet Yahya's name; associated with life”. It comes from Arabic Yaḥyā, the Quranic name of Zechariah's son. Although associated with the Arabic verb 'to live,' its earlier linguistic origin is uncertain.
Is Yahya a boy’s name?
Yes, Yahya is used mostly as a boy’s name.
Is Yahya in the Quran?
Yes, as a name. Yahya occurs in the Quran as the proper name of Zakariya's son and is addressed in Surah Maryam. (e.g.: 19:7)
What is the origin of the name Yahya?
Yahya is of Arabic origin.
How many syllables does Yahya have?
Yahya has 2 syllables and 5 letters.
How popular is the name Yahya?
Yahya appears in TÜİK’s most-used name lists. See the statistics section above (Source: TurkStat, ADNKS).
What names go well with Yahya?
Some ideas: Yahya Bünyamin; Abidin Yahya; Yahya Memet.
Famous people named Yahya?
Notable people named Yahya include Yahya Kemal Beyatlı, Yahya Galip Kargı, Yahya Baş.
Sources and method
Meanings and origins draw on language sources and name dictionaries; popularity figures come from TÜİK’s address-based population register, and notable people from Wikidata.
Entry ID: nm00503 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake