Yari
Yari (槍) is the term for a traditionally-made Japanese sword in the form of a spear, or more specifically, the straight-headed spear. The martial art of wielding the yari is called sōjutsu.
Meaning & Origin of Yari
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Yari (槍) is the term for a traditionally-made Japanese sword in the form of a spear, or more specifically, the straight-headed spear. The martial art of wielding the yari is called sōjutsu.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Origin & history
The Story of Yari
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Yari as a girl name dates back to 1996, when 7 babies received it. 2024 was its biggest year on record, with 43 newborns named Yari — #3,565 in the national rankings. About 41% of every Yari on record arrived during the 2020s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Yari ranks #3,800 for girls with 40 births, rising sharply (+30% over the past five years). All told, over 621 Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1990s to the 2020s.
As a boy name
American parents first put Yari on the record books as a boy name in 1980, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2023, when 9 Yaris were born — ranking #8,250 that year. About 49% of every Yari on record arrived during the 2020s, its defining decade. Yari last appeared in the published SSA data in 2024, with 9 recorded births — it has not charted nationally since. All told, over 57 Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1980s to the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Yari
Phonetically similar names — useful when Yari is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Yari
What does the name Yari mean?
How popular is Yari in 2026?
When was Yari most popular?
In which U.S. states is Yari most popular?
Is Yari a unisex name?
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About the name Yari
Yari is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1996 and has accumulated 621 births in the dataset. Yari's peak popularity came in 2024 when it ranked #3,565. Use the chart and map above to compare Yari's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2024 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "Y" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.