Yee
Primarily a boy's name of Chinese origin with 281 recorded births. Also given to 202 girls.
Meaning & Origin
A surname from Chinese.
Yee is a boy's and girl's baby name of Chinese origin, an anglicization of several Chinese surnames and given names including 義 (meaning 'righteousness') and 易 (meaning 'change, easy'). In Cantonese-speaking communities, Yee appears as a surname transliteration, and it has crossed into given name use in Chinese American families.
As a given name, Yee is compact and distinctive — carrying the resonance of Chinese heritage in its minimal two-letter form.
EtymologyShow more
Yee is built from 3 letters and one syllable — a compact structure that favors quick recognition and easy recall. Within the Chinese naming tradition, this brevity is common among names that have been worn down through centuries of use, shedding syllables along the way.
The interplay of consonants and vowels in Yee creates its characteristic bright, upbeat quality. One-syllable names stand out for their directness. Every sound carries weight, making pronunciation and first impressions immediate.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Yee has 30+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1880.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 109 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 103 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 11 | ▼ |
| 1890s | 26 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 23 | — |
The Story of Yee
A Millennial name
Peaking in 1989, Yee is a Millennial-era classic. Boys named Yee are most likely born between 1979 and 1999.
How rare is Yee?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Yee is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1880, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 1990s with 109 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Yee by the numbers
- Would fill 6 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(30 years, 1880–2000)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 9 | #7392 |
| 1999 | 7 | #8681 |
| 1998 | 6 | #9607 |
| 1997 | 9 | #6600 |
| 1996 | 8 | #7123 |
| 1995 | 9 | #6397 |
| 1994 | 13 | #4795 |
| 1993 | 11 | #5352 |
| 1992 | 12 | #4861 |
| 1991 | 18 | #3454 |
| 1990 | 16 | #3774 |
| 1989 | 18 | #3324 |
| 1988 | 6 | #7247 |
| 1987 | 11 | #4234 |
| 1986 | 8 | #5324 |
| 1985 | 16 | #3067 |
| 1984 | 11 | #3920 |
| 1983 | 6 | #6222 |
| 1981 | 16 | #2896 |
| 1980 | 11 | #3837 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Yee as a Girl's Name
Yee is a true unisex name. As a girl's name, it has 202 recorded births since 1977.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yee a boy's or girl's name?
When was Yee most popular?
How popular is the name Yee?
Can Yee be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1880–2000