Unisex · #3,800 in 2026

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.

Current Rank
#3,800
Peak Rank
#3,565 (2024)
Total Babies
621
5-Yr Trend
+30%
👧 Girl peak #3,565 (621 total)
👦 Boy peak #8,250 (57 total)
👧As Girl Name
1996
First Year
2026
Last Year
2024
Peak Year
#3565
Peak Rank
621
Total Count
31
Years Active
👦As Boy Name
1980
First Year
2024
Last Year
2023
Peak Year
#8250
Peak Rank
57
Total Count
9
Years Active

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 forerunner of the yari is thought to be the hoko , a lance derived from the qiang (Chinese spear). These hoko are thought to be from the Nara period (710–794). Another polearm, the naginata (glaive), became important in the late Heian. The term yari appeared for the first time in written sources in 1334, but this type of spear did not become popular until the late 15th century. The original warfare of the bushi was not a thing for commoners; it was a ritualized combat usually between two warriors, who would challenge each other via mounted archery . In the late Heian, battles on foot began

The Story of Yari

As a girl name

Yari first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1996, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2024, when 43 Yaris were born — ranking #3,565 that year. As of 2026, Yari ranks #3,800 for girls with 40 births, rising sharply (+30% over the past five years). In total, more than 621 Yaris have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.

As a boy name

Yari first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1980, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2023, when 9 Yaris were born — ranking #8,250 that year. As of 2026, Yari ranks #8,287 for boys with 9 births, with steady use. In total, more than 57 Yaris have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Girls Boys

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

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?
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.
How popular is Yari in 2026?
In 2026, Yari ranks #3,800 among girls' names in the U.S., with 40 babies given the name that year.
When was Yari most popular?
Yari reached its peak popularity in 2024, ranking #3,565 that year with 43 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Yari most popular?
Yari has historically been most popular in Maryland, Georgia, Florida. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Yari.
Is Yari a unisex name?
Yes — Yari is used for both girls and boys in U.S. records, with about 92% of Yaris assigned female and 8% assigned male historically.
What names go well with Yari?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Yari include Lilac, Adali, Annaleia. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👧 Similar Girl Names

👧
Lilac
Peak #3565
👧
Adali
Peak #3565
👧
Annaleia
Peak #3565
👧
Lyanni
Peak #3565

👦 Similar Boy Names

👦
Church
Peak #8250
👦
Denham
Peak #8250
👦
Rom
Peak #8250
👦
Nando
Peak #8250

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

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.