Yancy
A male given name transferred from the surname.
Every Yancy since 1886 — 2,951 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Yancy
Yancy is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #11,935 in 2025 with 6 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1886, 2,951 American babies have been named Yancy — about 82% boys and 18% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1959, when 123 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1950s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Yancy stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Yancy year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 6 | #11,935 |
| 2024 | 12 | #8,926 | — | — |
| 2023 | — | — | — | — |
| 2022 | 6 | #15,223 | — | — |
| 2021 | 11 | #9,526 | 5 | #14,001 |
| 2020 | 5 | #17,417 | — | — |
| 2019 | 6 | #15,466 | — | — |
| 2018 | 8 | #12,417 | 9 | #8,786 |
| 2017 | 12 | #9,322 | 9 | #8,805 |
| 2016 | 8 | #12,829 | 7 | #10,691 |
| 2015 | 8 | #12,955 | 7 | #10,592 |
| 2014 | 14 | #8,469 | 11 | #7,534 |
| 2013 | 5 | #19,164 | — | — |
| 2012 | 9 | #12,170 | 10 | #8,122 |
| 2011 | 14 | #8,596 | 12 | #6,986 |
| 2010 | 8 | #13,399 | 9 | #8,763 |
| 2009 | 11 | #10,642 | 7 | #10,936 |
| 2008 | 19 | #7,059 | 11 | #7,682 |
| 2007 | 10 | #11,591 | 12 | #7,066 |
| 2006 | 15 | #8,222 | 14 | #6,080 |
| 2005 | 19 | #6,524 | 15 | #5,567 |
| 2004 | 18 | #6,762 | 14 | #5,803 |
| 2003 | 16 | #7,197 | 19 | #4,415 |
| 2002 | 16 | #7,035 | 22 | #3,904 |
| 2001 | 21 | #5,564 | 15 | #5,135 |
| 2000 | 11 | #9,148 | 23 | #3,635 |
| 1995 | 13 | #7,030 | 25 | #2,922 |
| 1990 | 9 | #9,231 | 34 | #2,166 |
| 1985 | 6 | #10,659 | 35 | #1,762 |
| 1980 | 9 | #7,403 | 40 | #1,545 |
| 1975 | — | — | 66 | #1,018 |
| 1970 | — | — | 67 | #999 |
| 1965 | — | — | 45 | #1,128 |
| 1960 | — | — | 67 | #926 |
| 1955 | — | — | 8 | #3,199 |
| 1950 | — | — | 9 | #2,768 |
| 1945 | — | — | 6 | #3,334 |
| 1940 | — | — | 11 | #2,320 |
| 1935 | — | — | 5 | #4,143 |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | 7 | #3,738 |
| 1920 | — | — | 10 | #2,966 |
| 1915 | — | — | 7 | #3,388 |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | 8 | #1,047 |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Yancy
- Yancy Butler Actor · b. 1970
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Yancy mean?
A male given name transferred from the surname.
How popular is the name Yancy in 2025?
Yancy ranked #11,935 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 6 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Yancy?
2,951 babies have been named Yancy in the United States since 1886, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Yancy most popular?
Yancy peaked in 1959, when 123 newborns received the name.
Is Yancy a boy or girl name?
Yancy is used for both: about 18% of babies named Yancy have been girls and 82% boys.
Is the name Yancy rising or falling?
Yancy is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Yancy?
Well-known people named Yancy include Yancy Butler (actor).