Yoshiyuki
Meaningoften good fortune · Japanese
Yoshiyuki is a Japanese boy name often meaning “good fortune”. 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 flowing and melodic, it's a longer name that leaves plenty of room for nicknames, and it pairs well with a short middle name.
Did you know?
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Yoshiyuki would score 22 points, thanks largely to the K (worth 5). A high-scoring name!
- GenerationYoshiyuki peaked in 1924, which makes it a Greatest Generation name, think great-grandparents.
- HistoryYoshiyuki first shows up in US birth records in 1918, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 107 years since.
US births per million boys, 1918–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Yoshiyuki
Yoshiyuki is a boy name of Japanese origin meaning “often good fortune”. With 4 syllables it has a flowing, lyrical sound, and plenty of room for a nickname, so a short middle name balances it nicely. 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 boy names
- Unisex name: Asa · healer
- Unisex name: Rio · river
- Unisex name: Akari · light, brightness
- Boy name: Kenzo · often healthy third son
- Boy name: Kenji · often strong second son
- Unisex name: Ren · often lotus
- Unisex name: Zen · meditation
- Unisex name: Mars · god of war
Questions about the name Yoshiyuki
What does the name Yoshiyuki mean?
Yoshiyuki means “often good fortune” and comes from Japanese. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Chance (“fortune”), Otis (“wealth, fortune”), Gadiel (“God is my fortune”) and Saad (“good fortune”).
What is the origin of the name Yoshiyuki?
Yoshiyuki is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Asa (“healer”), Rio (“river”), Akari (“light, brightness”) and Kenzo (“often healthy third son”).
Is Yoshiyuki a boy or girl name?
Yoshiyuki is a boy name.
How popular is the name Yoshiyuki?
Yoshiyuki is rare: fewer than 5 US boys got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 1927. It peaked at #2,822 in 1924, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.
What names are similar to Yoshiyuki?
If you like Yoshiyuki, you might also like Chance, Otis, Gadiel and Saad.
What should I know before naming my baby Yoshiyuki?
Yoshiyuki is a Japanese boy name often meaning “good fortune”. 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 flowing and melodic, it's a longer name that leaves plenty of room for nicknames, and it pairs well with a short middle name. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.