Yoav
Borrowed from Hebrew יוֹאָב (yo'áv).
Every Yoav since 1970 — 411 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Yoav
Yoav is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #9,678 in 2025 with 8 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.
Since 1970, 411 American babies have been named Yoav. Its peak came in 2008, when 29 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2000s.
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 Yoav stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Yoav year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | #9,678 |
| 2024 | 5 | #14,208 |
| 2023 | 9 | #8,898 |
| 2022 | 11 | #7,745 |
| 2021 | 12 | #7,080 |
| 2020 | 9 | #8,706 |
| 2019 | 8 | #9,714 |
| 2018 | 8 | #9,639 |
| 2017 | 9 | #8,813 |
| 2016 | 8 | #9,627 |
| 2015 | 8 | #9,537 |
| 2014 | 11 | #7,539 |
| 2013 | 8 | #9,630 |
| 2012 | 18 | #5,243 |
| 2011 | 15 | #5,933 |
| 2010 | 18 | #5,241 |
| 2009 | 18 | #5,322 |
| 2008 | 29 | #3,740 |
| 2007 | 27 | #3,890 |
| 2006 | 19 | #4,857 |
| 2005 | 16 | #5,274 |
| 2004 | 19 | #4,597 |
| 2003 | 14 | #5,547 |
| 2002 | 8 | #8,434 |
| 2001 | 7 | #9,216 |
| 2000 | 9 | #7,396 |
| 1995 | 5 | #10,303 |
| 1990 | — | — |
| 1985 | 5 | #7,565 |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — |
| 1970 | 5 | #5,425 |
| 1965 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Yoav
- Yoav Galant Politician · b. 1958
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Yoav mean?
Borrowed from Hebrew יוֹאָב (yo'áv).
How popular is the name Yoav in 2025?
Yoav ranked #9,678 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 8 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Yoav?
411 babies have been named Yoav in the United States since 1970, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Yoav most popular?
Yoav peaked in 2008, when 29 newborns received the name.
Is Yoav a boy or girl name?
Yoav is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Yoav rising or falling?
Yoav has been roughly stable over the past decade.
Who are famous people named Yoav?
Well-known people named Yoav include Yoav Galant (politician).