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Yu

Unisex

Meaning of Yu: Chinese: 'precious jade'

Yu is a unisex name most strongly associated with Chinese naming. It has 2 letters and 1 syllable, and it is a genuinely rare and unique choice — 8282nd most popular name in the United States in 2025 and 5891st in England & Wales.

US rank 2025

#8282

9 babies in 2025

England & Wales 2024

#5891

3 babies in 2024

US babies since 1880

830

First recorded 1969 · peak 2007

Trend

stable

Style: rare

Popularity over time

1981: 11 babies1982: 9 babies1983: 13 babies1984: 20 babies1985: 21 babies1986: 20 babies1987: 6 babies1988: 16 babies1989: 22 babies1990: 29 babies19901991: 20 babies1992: 20 babies1993: 24 babies1994: 25 babies1995: 21 babies1996: 18 babies1997: 16 babies1998: 17 babies1999: 22 babies2000: 24 babies20002001: 18 babies2002: 34 babies2003: 28 babies2004: 26 babies2005: 28 babies2006: 27 babies2007: 35 babies2008: 7 babies2009: 14 babies2010: 16 babies20102011: 12 babies2012: 19 babies2013: 18 babies2014: 13 babies2015: 9 babies2016: 17 babies2017: 16 babies2018: 11 babies2019: 10 babies2020: 11 babies20202021: 10 babies2022: 11 babies2023: 6 babies2024: 11 babies2025: 9 babies
US babies named Yu per year (Social Security Administration). Peak bar = 35.

Gender split

54% boys · 46% girls, based on US, UK and international usage.

Origins & cultures

More Chinese names

Other names starting with Y