Yale Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Yale has its roots in Welsh, meaning 'fertile upland.' It evolved from the Old Welsh 'iael' to its modern form. The name became prominent in English-speaking countries due to the establishment of Yale University. It carries traits of prestige and academic excellence, with no direct biblical relevance.
The name Yale is most popular in New York, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Yale has been stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Yale' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1712th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1841st out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2205th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2942nd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3989th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 8496th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 11719th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Yale' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Yale"
Pronunciation
/jeɪl/
Origin
Welsh
Etymology
The name Yale is derived from the Welsh word 'iael,' meaning 'a fertile upland.' It is also associated with a place name in Wales, which contributed to its use as a surname and given name.
Meaning
fertile upland
Language Evolution
Iael (Old Welsh), Yale (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name Yale gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly due to the establishment of Yale University, which was founded in 1701 and named after Elihu Yale, a benefactor of the institution.
Variants & Derivatives
Yales, Yail
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, the name Yale is often associated with prestige and academic excellence, largely due to its connection with Yale University, which is one of the Ivy League schools.
Famous People
Elihu Yale, Yale University alumni such as Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush
Explore More Yale Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Yale"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Yale"
"Yale" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1712th of 7545 | 315 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1841st of 6773 | 283 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 2205th of 7552 | 258 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2942nd of 10718 | 189 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3989th of 16616 | 202 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 8496th of 24088 | 116 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 11719th of 23106 | 53 |
Regional Popularity of "Yale" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
60.62% 836th/1379 |
- | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
53.21% 828th/1556 |
- | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
67.94% 1651st/2430 |
- |
57.80% 1604th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - |
60.78% 2458th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Yale" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Yale"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Yale" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.