Yair

An uncommon Hebrew pick — distinctive and rare.

Boy's nameHebrewRising fast
#1407 265in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A male given name from Hebrew.

Yair is a boy's baby name of Hebrew origin meaning 'he enlightens' or 'he will enlighten,' from the Hebrew root 'or (light). In the Hebrew Bible, Jair was a judge of Israel and a descendant of Manasseh who led Israel for twenty-two years.

Yair is the modern Israeli form, popular in Israel today and increasingly chosen by Jewish families in America seeking an authentic Hebrew name that works in English without modification. Short, meaningful, and grounded in scripture.

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Popularity Over Time

Yair was #742 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #1407, but its charm endures.

078156233311198020002024

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Yair
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s675
2010s1,738
2000s2,133
1990s261
1980s91
1970s19

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(47 years, 19762024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Yair
YearBirthsRank
2024133#1407
2023184#1142
2022135#1386
2021116#1528
2020107#1553
2019161#1192
2018173#1121
2017150#1230
2016152#1233
2015161#1160
2014174#1100
2013207#971
2012163#1129
2011194#1003
2010203#975
2009259#837
2008262#834
2007295#753
2006311#706
2005262#759

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (19762024) · Methodology