Yoshi
Yoshi is a fictional creature who appears in video games published by Nintendo. Yoshi debuted in Super Mario World (1990) on the SNES as Mario and Luigi's steed. The character belongs to a species of dinosaurs, also collectively called Yoshis.
- Japanese
Meaning & Origin of Yoshi
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Yoshi is a fictional creature who appears in video games published by Nintendo. Yoshi debuted in Super Mario World (1990) on the SNES as Mario and Luigi's steed. The character belongs to a species of dinosaurs, also collectively called Yoshis.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Japanese
The Story of Yoshi
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Yoshi as a girl name dates back to 1914, when 6 babies received it. 1919 was its biggest year on record, with 7 newborns named Yoshi — #3,817 in the national rankings. The 1910s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 20% of all recorded Yoshis. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2022 (5 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 91 Yoshis have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
American parents first put Yoshi on the record books as a boy name in 1923, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2011, when 17 Yoshis were born — ranking #5,200 that year. The 2010s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 36% of all recorded Yoshis. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #6,496 among boy names with 13 births, rising sharply (+31% over the past five years). In total, more than 237 Yoshis have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1920s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Yoshi
Phonetically similar names — useful when Yoshi 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 Yoshi
What does the name Yoshi mean?
What is the origin of the name Yoshi?
How popular is Yoshi in 2026?
When was Yoshi most popular?
In which U.S. states is Yoshi most popular?
Is Yoshi a unisex name?
What names go well with Yoshi?
About the name Yoshi
Yoshi is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1923 and has accumulated 237 births in the dataset. Yoshi's peak popularity came in 2011 when it ranked #4,239. Use the chart and map above to compare Yoshi's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2011 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- Names starting with "Y" →
- Browse all boy 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.