Young Unisex

Popularity: · Trend: ↘ Falling

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 #1185 nationally, which occurred in 1991, and has been most popular in California, Kansas, 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.

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. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

State Births Share
CA 10
100%

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.

YearBirths
20226
20218
201813
20176
20165
201512
20149
20138
201210
20106
20098
20089
200711
200511
200411
200311
200213
20019
200022
199925
199822
199738
199624
199531
199442
199329
199236
199142
199031
198933
198826
198716
198632
198529
198438
198329
198237
198139
198021
197931
197830
197718
197626
197530
197421
197321
197222
197120
197014
196917
196820
19675
19669
196512
196411
196314
196212
196116
196014
195911
195813
195716
195615
195517
195420
195312
195214
195111
195018
194914
194819
194718
194617
19456
194417
194319
194210
194112
194013
193911
193814
19378
193621
193517
193414
193319
193214
193117
193023
192914
192816
192723
192618
192518
192421
192325
192232
192123
192021
191922
191825
191730
191621
191516
191418
191311
191215
191112
19107
19097
19086
19078
19046
19035
190211
19015
19008
18995
18987
18979
18966
18958
18945
18936
18927
18916
18907
188910
18886
188712
188610
188510
188411
188312
18829
18819
188014