Yates
Meaninggates · English
- US rank
- #6,143
- Syllables
- 1
- Peak
- #2,020 in 1923
14 babies were named Yates in the US in 2025. It has dropped 163 places in five years.
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1914–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Yates you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 121,951 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Yates, 14 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Yates would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryYates first shows up in US birth records in 1914, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 111 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1923, when it ranked #2,020. Today it's #6,143, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowYates is 3.3× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 400,000 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 121,951.
- TrendYates has slipped 163 places over the last five years and now sits at #6,143. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- MeaningIn English, Yates means “gates”.
About the name Yates
Yates is a boy name of English origin meaning “gates”. It has 5 letters and 1 syllable, starting with Y and ending in “-tes”. US birth records list Yates for boys from 1914 to 2025, in 63 of those 112 years. Its best year was 1923, when it ranked #2,020 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #6,143, with 14 babies.
Origin:English names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 10 | 97,720 boys |
| 1920s | 7.0 | 142,450 boys |
| 1930s | 6.2 | 161,551 boys |
| 1940s | 2.5 | 406,504 boys |
| 1950s | 0.9 | 1,162,791 boys |
| 1960s | 0.5 | 1,923,077 boys |
| 1970s | 0.7 | 1,449,275 boys |
| 1980s | 1.1 | 917,431 boys |
| 1990s | 0.3 | 2,857,143 boys |
| 2000s | 2.2 | 446,429 boys |
| 2010s | 5.4 | 183,824 boys |
| 2020s | 7.0 | 141,844 boys |
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Yates
What does the name Yates mean?
Yates means “gates” in English.
What is the origin of the name Yates?
Yates has English roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Yates a boy or girl name?
Yates is a boy name.
How popular is the name Yates?
Yates ranked #6,143 for US boys in 2025, given to 14 babies. Its best year was 1923 (#2,020).