Yahya
Yahya is a Muslim boy name meaning “He lives; Prophet John the Baptist”.
| Meaning | He lives; Prophet John the Baptist |
|---|---|
| Gender | Boy |
| Origin | Arabic |
| Arabic spelling | يحيى |
| Pronunciation | YAH-yah |
| Arabic root | ح ي ي (ḥ-y-y) — to live |
| Muslim name? | Islamic / Arabic name |
Meaning and origin of Yahya
Yahya is the Arabic Yaḥyā, the name the Quran gives to the Prophet known in English as John the Baptist. It is linked to the root ḥ-y-y, to live, and is usually read as 'he lives' or 'he will live', and many commentators connect it with the idea that God gave life to Zakariyya's line through a son born in old age, or with his life of faith. Scholars also note the relationship with the Hebrew and Aramaic name behind John, so the name is best explained as the Quranic form of John with the sense of life.
The Quran praises Yahya as noble, chaste, a prophet among the righteous, and as one who confirmed a word from God, and it states that no one before him had borne the name. Because of this, Yahya has been a respected Muslim name since the earliest centuries, borne by the hadith critic Yahya ibn Maʿin and the Andalusian jurist Yahya ibn Yahya al-Laythi. Spellings include Yahia and Yehia in Egypt and North Africa, Yahyah and Yahiya in South Asia, and Yahya in Turkey, where it was carried by the poet Yahya Kemal Beyatlı.
Famous people named Yahya
- Yahya ibn Maʿin — ninth-century Baghdad scholar renowned for evaluating hadith narrators
- Yahya ibn Yahya al-Laythi — Andalusian jurist who transmitted the best-known version of Imam Malik's al-Muwatta
- Yahya Kemal Beyatlı — major Turkish poet of the twentieth century
Is Yahya a Muslim name?
Yes. Yahya is the name of a Prophet mentioned in the Quran and is a classic Muslim name.
Is Yahya in the Quran?
'O Zakariyya, We give you good tidings of a boy whose name will be Yahya' (Quran 19:7).
Where is the name Yahya used?
Used throughout the Muslim world, from Turkey and the Gulf to Nigeria and Indonesia.
Gifts with the name Yahya
- Yahya name necklaces & bracelets (Amazon)
- Personalised Yahya baby gifts (Amazon)
- Islamic baby gifts & books (Amazon)
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Spellings and variants of Yahya
More boy names like Yahya
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Yahya mean?
Yahya means 'He lives; Prophet John the Baptist'. It comes from Arabic.
Is Yahya a Muslim name?
Yes. Yahya is the name of a Prophet mentioned in the Quran and is a classic Muslim name.
How do you write Yahya in Arabic?
Yahya is written يحيى in Arabic script.
How do you pronounce Yahya?
Yahya is pronounced YAH-yah.
Is Yahya mentioned in the Quran?
'O Zakariyya, We give you good tidings of a boy whose name will be Yahya' (Quran 19:7).
Who is Prophet Yahya in English?
Prophet Yahya is known in English as John the Baptist, son of Zakariyya (Zechariah).