Given name
Yemaya
“an intelligent woman”
Yemaya is used as a given name. One African interpretation is “an intelligent woman.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One African interpretation is “an intelligent woman.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is African.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1991. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Yemaya through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 495
- 0 boys · 495 girls
- Most popular year
- 2023
- 57 babies
- 2025
- 31
- #4,541 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +69%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 31 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 4,541 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 69.1% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (5). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 215 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Yemaya’s family of names
Yemaya has a related form in Yemae. Yemaya has a related form in Yemai. Yemaya has a related form in Yemay.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Similar names
If you love Yemaya, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Anaya
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Yuna
“a gorgeous woman”
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Neema
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Zira
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Hada
“from the salty place”
>99% girls
Rehema
“a compassionate woman”
>99% girls