Young Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: Yung /jʌŋ/
Origin: English; Scottish
Meaning: English: youthful; Scottish: young man
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Young has its roots in the Old English word "geong," which translates to "young" or "youthful." This term is derived from the Proto-Germanic *jungwaz, which also means "young." The evolution of the name can be traced through various linguistic stages, including Old Norse, where the word appears as "ung," and Middle English, where it was adapted into forms such as "yunge" before settling into the modern English form. The transition into English likely occurred during the early medieval period, as the Anglo-Saxons settled in England and integrated their language with that of the Norse invaders.
Historically, the name Young has been used as both a surname and a given name, with its earliest recorded instances appearing in the 13th century. It was commonly used to denote the younger of two individuals with the same name, often in contexts where family lineage was significant.
This practice can be seen in various cultures, where names were often linked to familial relationships. The name has also appeared in notable historical texts and documents, contributing to its recognition over the centuries.
Culturally, the name Young carries connotations of vitality and freshness, symbolizing youth and new beginnings. It has been associated with various traditions and folklore that celebrate the qualities of youthfulness, such as vigor and potential.
In some contexts, the name has been used as a diminutive or affectionate form, reflecting a familial or close relationship. The name's enduring presence in literature and historical records underscores its significance across different eras, making it a notable example of how names can encapsulate cultural values and familial ties.
Famous people named Young
In this section, you will find notable people named Young. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Young who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Young who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Young Thug is a rapper best known for Jeffery, So Much Fun, and Barter 6.
Young M.A is a rapper best known for Ooouuu, PettyWap, and Big Steppa.
Fictional characters named Young
The following list of fictional characters named Young is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Young is a fictional character from the video game series The Legend of Zelda. They are a key figure in the storyline, often representing the spirit of youth and adventure.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Young, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Young. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Young was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Young has ranked as high as #3569 nationally, which occurred in 1991, and has been most popular in Kansas, California, New York, Georgia, and Alabama.
In the past 5 years the name Young has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Young is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Young was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Young.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2021 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2018 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 2017 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2016 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2015 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 2014 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 2013 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2012 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2010 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2009 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2008 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 2007 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 2005 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 2004 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 2003 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 2002 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 2001 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 2000 | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| 1999 | 25 | 25 | 0 |
| 1998 | 27 | 22 | 5 |
| 1997 | 46 | 38 | 8 |
| 1996 | 29 | 24 | 5 |
| 1995 | 39 | 31 | 8 |
| 1994 | 48 | 42 | 6 |
| 1993 | 44 | 29 | 15 |
| 1992 | 49 | 36 | 13 |
| 1991 | 60 | 42 | 18 |
| 1990 | 45 | 31 | 14 |
| 1989 | 44 | 33 | 11 |
| 1988 | 35 | 26 | 9 |
| 1987 | 28 | 16 | 12 |
| 1986 | 45 | 32 | 13 |
| 1985 | 44 | 29 | 15 |
| 1984 | 48 | 38 | 10 |
| 1983 | 48 | 29 | 19 |
| 1982 | 46 | 37 | 9 |
| 1981 | 55 | 39 | 16 |
| 1980 | 33 | 21 | 12 |
| 1979 | 42 | 31 | 11 |
| 1978 | 43 | 30 | 13 |
| 1977 | 29 | 18 | 11 |
| 1976 | 35 | 26 | 9 |
| 1975 | 43 | 30 | 13 |
| 1974 | 28 | 21 | 7 |
| 1973 | 28 | 21 | 7 |
| 1972 | 28 | 22 | 6 |
| 1971 | 28 | 20 | 8 |
| 1970 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1969 | 29 | 17 | 12 |
| 1968 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 1967 | 11 | 5 | 6 |
| 1966 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1965 | 20 | 12 | 8 |
| 1964 | 22 | 11 | 11 |
| 1963 | 20 | 14 | 6 |
| 1962 | 18 | 12 | 6 |
| 1961 | 22 | 16 | 6 |
| 1960 | 21 | 14 | 7 |
| 1959 | 22 | 11 | 11 |
| 1958 | 23 | 13 | 10 |
| 1957 | 21 | 16 | 5 |
| 1956 | 23 | 15 | 8 |
| 1955 | 24 | 17 | 7 |
| 1954 | 31 | 20 | 11 |
| 1953 | 21 | 12 | 9 |
| 1952 | 30 | 14 | 16 |
| 1951 | 19 | 11 | 8 |
| 1950 | 26 | 18 | 8 |
| 1949 | 21 | 14 | 7 |
| 1948 | 25 | 19 | 6 |
| 1947 | 26 | 18 | 8 |
| 1946 | 22 | 17 | 5 |
| 1945 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1944 | 24 | 17 | 7 |
| 1943 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1942 | 16 | 10 | 6 |
| 1941 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1940 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1939 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1938 | 19 | 14 | 5 |
| 1937 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1936 | 26 | 21 | 5 |
| 1935 | 22 | 17 | 5 |
| 1934 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1933 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1932 | 21 | 14 | 7 |
| 1931 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1930 | 23 | 23 | 0 |
| 1929 | 20 | 14 | 6 |
| 1928 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1927 | 23 | 23 | 0 |
| 1926 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1925 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1924 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 1923 | 25 | 25 | 0 |
| 1922 | 32 | 32 | 0 |
| 1921 | 23 | 23 | 0 |
| 1920 | 26 | 21 | 5 |
| 1919 | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| 1918 | 25 | 25 | 0 |
| 1917 | 30 | 30 | 0 |
| 1916 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 1915 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1914 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1913 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1912 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1911 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1910 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1909 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1908 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1907 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1904 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1903 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1902 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1901 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1900 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1899 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1898 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1897 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1896 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1895 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1894 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1893 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1892 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1891 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1890 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1889 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1888 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1887 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1886 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1885 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1884 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1883 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1882 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1881 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1880 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
Top States for Young (1999)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 10 |