A Name Story by Houdhoud
يَحْيَى
Yahya
YAH-yah
About Yahya
Yahya is a Muslim baby boy's name, an Arabic name carried for centuries across the Muslim world.
Name of the Prophet Yahya (peace be upon him).
Spellings of Yahya
| Spelling | Births in England and Wales, 2025 | Births in France, 2016 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Yahyathe spelling used on this page | 625 | 1,720 |
Babies registered with exactly that spelling. England and Wales: Office for National Statistics, 2025 (the list covers names given to 3 or more babies). France: INSEE Fichier des prénoms, 2016 to 2025 added together (INSEE rounds each yearly count to the nearest 5).
Origin
Origin
Arabic
Gender
Boy
In the Qur’an
Surah 19 : Ayah 7
يَا زَكَرِيَّا إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَامٍ اسْمُهُ يَحْيَىٰ لَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُ مِن قَبْلُ سَمِيًّا
“[He was told], "O Zakariya, indeed We give you good tidings of a boy whose name will be Yahya. We have not assigned to any before [this] name."”
Yahya appears in the Qur'an directly, as in the verse above.
Across history
Who has carried Yahya before.
- The Prophet Yahya (peace be upon him)
How to say it
Stressed syllable in capitals
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Other names with the same heart: close in origin, sound, and spirit.
Common questions about Yahya
- What does the name Yahya mean?
- The meaning of Yahya (يَحْيَى) isn't established in the sources Houdhoud uses, so we don't give one. Name of the Prophet Yahya (peace be upon him).
- Is Yahya a name from the Qur'an?
- Yes. Yahya appears in the Qur'an, in Surah 19, Ayah 7. The verse is on this page with its English meaning.
- Is Yahya a boy or a girl name?
- Yahya is traditionally a boy's name.
- Where does the name Yahya come from?
- Yahya is an Arabic name.
Browse names like Yahya
Collections Yahya belongs to.
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