Yume
Meaningdream · Japanese
Yume is a Japanese girl name meaning “dream”. 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 short and punchy, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with a longer middle name.
Did you know?
- GenerationYume peaked in 2008, which makes it a Gen Z name. The typical Yume you'd meet today is about 17 years old.
- HistoryYume first shows up in US birth records in 1999, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 26 years since.
US births per million girls, 1999–2025
Similar names
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 Yume
Yume is a girl name of Japanese origin meaning “dream”. Short and strong, it's said in a single beat and ends on an open, friendly vowel, so it pairs easily with a longer middle name. It's a fresh, modern name that only arrived in US birth records in recent decades. 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 Yume
What does the name Yume mean?
Yume means “dream” and comes from Japanese. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Dream (“dream”), Ashlyn (“dream”), Ashlynn (“dream”) and Aislinn (“dream”).
What is the origin of the name Yume?
Yume is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Naomi (“pleasantness”), Noa (“movement”), Reina (“queen”) and Aya (“sign, verse”).
Is Yume a boy or girl name?
Yume is a girl name.
How popular is the name Yume?
Yume is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 2023. It peaked at #12,579 in 2008, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.
What names are similar to Yume?
If you like Yume, you might also like Dream, Ashlyn, Ashlynn and Aislinn.
What should I know before naming my baby Yume?
Yume is a Japanese girl name meaning “dream”. 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 short and punchy, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with a longer middle name. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.