Total births
304
Unisex name · since 1983
Yi
Since 1983, U.S. Social Security records show 304 babies named Yi, peaking in 2018. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #6988
- among boys today
- 304
- born since 1983
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 51%
- more common than other boys
Yi currently ranks #6988 among unisex names in America, with 304 babies recorded since 1983.
Yi has 304 recorded births among boys since 1983, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, ranked #6988 as of the latest data, more common than 51% of boys, busiest in the 2010s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1983 to 2025.
- #6988 among boys today
- 304 born since 1983
- 2010s peak decade
- 51% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Yi is currently the #6988 unisex name in America, more common than 51% of boys - 304 born since 1983, peaking in the 2010s.
- #6988
- among boys today
- 304
- born since 1983
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 51%
- more common than other boys
Yi vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#6988
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 51% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
42% of everyone ever named Yi was born in this single decade.
2018
Single peak year
25 babies were named Yi in 2018 - its busiest year on record.
How Yi compares
304 46th percentile among 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Yi's all-time total is 17% below the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Yi | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 304 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 25 | 23 | 22,252 |
Yi's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Yi's SSA record in two at 2011 and the more recent half accounts for 66% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 34%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1984, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2018 peak of 25, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Yi at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2018
Current rank
#6,988
Active since
1983
Yi popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1983–2025
- Peak year (2018)
- 25
- Annual births at peak, across 43 years of records
Yi popularity over time - girls
182 total births recorded since 1980 (Yi as girls' name)
Yi by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Yi's strongest decade.
129 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 42% of all-time use.
Yi births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1980s 11
1980s
11 births
- 1990s 49
1990s
49 births
- 2000s 37
2000s
37 births
- 2010s
2010s
129 births
- 2020s
2020s
78 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 129 births (42% of all-time use).
Yi by state
Where Yi concentrates geographically, total births since 1983
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 43 | 14.1% |
| #2 | New York | | 8 | 2.6% |
California share of Yi's total US births 14.1%
Even split
43 of 304 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Yi? ▼
304 babies have been named Yi since 1983. It currently ranks #6988 among boys. The peak year was 2018 with 25 births.
When was Yi most popular? ▼
Yi was most popular in the 2010s decade with 129 total births. The single peak year was 2018.
Where is Yi most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Yi are California (43 births), New York (8 births).
Is Yi a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Yi is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 304 births, and as a girl's name it has 182 births.
How long has the name Yi been used? ▼
Yi has been recorded in Social Security data since 1983, spanning 43 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Yi? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Yisroel, Yitzchok, Yisrael, Yitzchak, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Yi's data
- Yi's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (129 total births) through the 2020s (78) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Yis (43 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Yi
Nearby Names Like Yi
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Yi
Yisroel Boy
#937 6,813 births
Yitzchok Boy
#947 5,451 births
Yisrael Boy
#1912 1,560 births
Yitzchak Boy
#2513 1,458 births
Yianni Boy
#5153 471 births
Compare Yi side by side: Yi vs Yisroel Yi vs Yitzchok Yi vs Yisrael
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Yi
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1983–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Yi: #6988 Unisex Name - 304 Births, Peak 2018." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/yi. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Yi draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.