Fun Facts About the Name Yaman
- 420 babies named Yaman: U.S. records list 420 babies given the name Yaman from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Yaman Mean?
Yaman has more than one independent origin. In Turkish it comes from the Turkic adjective yaman, meaning "fierce, formidable, sharp, or brave," which also carries an older sense of "bad" or "wicked." In Arabic, Yaman (اليمن) is the name of Yemen. That name belongs to the root y-m-n, the source of yamīn, "right hand" or "right side," and by extension "south," the direction on the right when facing the sunrise; the same root gives yumn, "good fortune" or "blessing," a sense often attached to the personal name.
The two traditions should not be merged: the Turkish word describes a quality, while the Arabic name identifies a region and carries its associations of good fortune. South Asia has a further form, Yaman, the name of a prominent Hindustani raga; the word is also used there for Yama, the god of the dead. Whether these South Asian uses connect to the Turkic or Arabic words is not established.
Yaman Name History & Origins
The Turkic adjective yaman is recorded in Old Turkic texts in the sense "bad, wicked." In later Turkish its range widened to take in "fierce," "formidable," "sharp," and even "excellent," so the same word can describe something dangerous and something impressive. It came into use as a personal name in Turkey, where it is given mainly to boys, and it is also a common Turkish surname.
The Arabic name is tied to the southwestern corner of the Arabian Peninsula. Al-Yaman, "Yemen," has been the region's name since early Islamic times, and the derived Yamanī means "Yemeni." Use of Yaman as a given name in Arabic-speaking countries generally points to the country rather than to a common noun, and Yamani and Yemini appear as surnames of Yemeni origin.
Hebrew calls Yemen Teiman (תימן), from the same Semitic root that yields yamin, "right hand" or "south," and Yemenite Jewish families have used surnames such as Teimani built on that root.
How Popular is the Name Yaman?
Yaman has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2025. Its best rank was #1,698 in 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,698 | 97 | 0.0057% |
| 2024 | #2,088 | 72 | 0.0042% |
| 2023 | #3,992 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 2022 | #3,983 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 2021 | #4,618 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 2020 | #4,692 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2019 | #3,489 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 2018 | #5,758 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2017 | #6,657 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2016 | #7,133 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2015 | #13,964 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #6,611 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2013 | #8,752 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2012 | #8,838 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2010 | #14,179 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #14,533 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 2003 | #12,708 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #7,032 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2000 | #7,389 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1997 | #7,263 | 8 | 0.0004% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Yaman Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have a strong need for freedom - physical, mental and spiritual. You hate bondage in any form. You have love of beauty and philosophy, and you desire achievement. You are willing to take spiritual matters on faith instead of subjecting them to mental analysis. You are inventive, intuitive and extremely methodical. Since your will is so strong, you are hard to convince. You also dislike advice. You love beauty and philosophy, and you desire achievement. You have a strong need for freedom - physical, mental and spiritual.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Yaman's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Yaman's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.