Yayoi
Meaningthird lunar month · Japanese
Yayoi is a Japanese girl name meaning “third lunar month”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- GenerationYayoi peaked in 1925, which makes it a Greatest Generation name, think great-grandparents.
- HistoryYayoi first shows up in US birth records in 1925, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 100 years since.
US births per million girls, 1925–2025
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Yayoi
Yayoi is a girl name of Japanese origin meaning “third lunar month”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It was most fashionable in the 1920s, which gives it a vintage, grandparent-chic charm. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Japanese names
More Japanese girl names
- Girl name: Naomi · pleasantness
- Girl name: Noa · movement
- Girl name: Reina · queen
- Girl name: Aya · sign, verse
- Girl name: Hana · one; flower in Japanese
- Girl name: Kiyomi · often pure beauty
- Girl name: Yuna · often gentle
- Unisex name: Akira · bright, clear
Questions about the name Yayoi
What does the name Yayoi mean?
Yayoi means “third lunar month” and comes from Japanese. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Hapistinna (“third-born daughter”).
What is the origin of the name Yayoi?
Yayoi is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Naomi (“pleasantness”), Noa (“movement”), Reina (“queen”) and Aya (“sign, verse”).
Is Yayoi a boy or girl name?
Yayoi is a girl name.
How popular is the name Yayoi?
Yayoi is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 1992. It peaked at #4,426 in 1925, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.
What names are similar to Yayoi?
If you like Yayoi, you might also like Hapistinna.
What should I know before naming my baby Yayoi?
Yayoi is a Japanese girl name meaning “third lunar month”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.