How Many People Are Named Yao?

Complete statistics for the name Yao: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Yao
Rare
Chinese

Yao means 'to lead' in Chinese, making it a name rich with leadership connotations. Only 106 people named Yao live in the US today, which is just 1 in 3,122,123 Americans. The majority, 69%, are under 30, giving it a decidedly modern vibe.

~10,882
Living in US
1 in 30,458
Americans
1984
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
To lead
🌐
Origin
Chinese
🌟
Lucky Day
Wednesday
💎
Lucky Stone
Aquamarine
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 5
Personality Traits
Ambitious Determined Confident
5
Life Path Number

Life-path number 5 symbolizes freedom, adventure, and change.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

541,027
Worldwide Bearers
#1,845
Global Rank
🇨🇮 Ivory Coast
410,315
🇹🇬 Togo
78,457
🇧🇯 Benin
11,732
🇸🇬 Singapore
8,317
🇬🇭 Ghana
6,124
🇹🇭 Thailand
4,803
🇺🇸 United States
4,516
🇰🇭 Cambodia
2,255
🇨🇳 China
2,233
🇧🇫 Burkina Faso
2,105

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
106 (100%)
♀ Female
0 (0%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 21
75
Would be under 30 (69%)
33
Would be 30–60 (31%)
0
Would be over 60 (0%)

All 108 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 1984

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Slowly declining

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
57
Classic Feel
32
Modern Appeal
88
International
100

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Yao Through the Generations

Yao reached its peak popularity in 1984 with 10 births, but since then, it's seen a steady decline. Today, the average age of someone named Yao is 21, with 75% under 30 and 33% between 30 and 60. This distribution paints a picture of a name that's becoming less common among older generations while still resonating with younger ones.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

California 11

✨ Similar Names to Yao

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Yao's Chinese roots

📄 About the Name Yao

How Many People Have the Name Yao?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 10,882 people in the United States currently share the name Yao. That works out to roughly 1 in every 30,458 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.

Is Yao a Common or Rare Name?

Yao is classified as Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Yao Mean?

Yao means "to lead" and comes from Chinese origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 5.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Yao in SSA data, approximately 100% are male and 0% are female.

When Was Yao Most Popular?

The name Yao reached peak popularity in 1984, with 10 babies registered that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Yao?

Approximately 10,882 people named Yao live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 10,882. That works out to roughly 1 in 30,458 Americans.

Is Yao a rare name?

Yao is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 30,458 Americans has this name.

What does the name Yao mean?

Yao means "to lead" and comes from Chinese origins.

Is Yao more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 100% of people named Yao are male and 0% are female.

When was Yao most popular?

Yao peaked in 1984 with 10 births that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US10,882
All-Time Births10,882
1 in X1 in 30,458
RarityRare
GenderMale
Avg Age21
Peak Year1984
World Rank#1,845
Male %100%
Female %0%

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.