يحيى

Yahaya

boyArabic, Hausa form

Yahaya is a Muslim boy name meaning “He lives; the Prophet Yaḥyā”.

MeaningHe lives; the Prophet Yaḥyā
GenderBoy
OriginArabic, Hausa form
Arabic spellingيحيى
Pronunciationyah-HAH-yah
Arabic rootح ي ي (ḥ-y-y) — life
Muslim name?Islamic / Arabic name

Meaning and origin of Yahaya

Yahaya is the Hausa form of Yaḥyā, the Prophet John the Baptist, son of the Prophet Zakariyyā. The Quran notes that no one had been given this name before him. It is connected to the root meaning 'life', and Hausa breaks up the cluster with an extra vowel to give Yahaya.

Is Yahaya a Muslim name?

Yes. Yahaya is the Hausa form of Yaḥyā, a Prophet named in the Quran.

Is Yahaya in the Quran?

'O Yaḥyā, take the Scripture with determination' (Quran 19:12).

Where is the name Yahaya used?

Common in northern Nigeria; Yahaya Bello, a former governor of Kogi State, is a well-known bearer.

Gifts with the name Yahaya

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Spellings and variants of Yahaya

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More boy names like Yahaya

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Yahaya mean?

Yahaya means 'He lives; the Prophet Yaḥyā'. It comes from Arabic, Hausa form.

Is Yahaya a Muslim name?

Yes. Yahaya is the Hausa form of Yaḥyā, a Prophet named in the Quran.

How do you write Yahaya in Arabic?

Yahaya is written يحيى in Arabic script.

How do you pronounce Yahaya?

Yahaya is pronounced yah-HAH-yah.

Is Yahaya mentioned in the Quran?

'O Yaḥyā, take the Scripture with determination' (Quran 19:12).

Updated October 2026 · Researched by the Modern Muslim Names team. Spotted a mistake? Let us know.