Yenta
A Yiddish feminine name meaning "the one who has insight".
Name Census estimates that about 16 living Americans carry the first name Yenta. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Yenta today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Yenta births was 2013 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Yenta. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Yenta. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
16
~ 1 in 21,422,146 Americans
Peak year
2013
6 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2024 SSA rank
#17,557
Tracked since 1986
Popularity
Yenta: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Yenta from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 6 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Yenta by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Yenta during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Yentas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Yenta
The given name Yenta has its origins in the Yiddish language, which is a Germanic language spoken by Ashkenazi Jewish communities. The name is believed to have derived from the Hebrew name "Yochanan," which means "God is gracious." Yenta is a diminutive form of this name and was commonly used as a pet name or nickname among Ashkenazi Jewish communities in Eastern Europe.
In the historical context, the name Yenta gained prominence and popularity in the 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly among Jewish communities in Eastern Europe. It was a common name given to girls born during this period, and its usage was widespread in areas such as Poland, Ukraine, and Russia.
While there are no specific historical references or ancient texts mentioning the name Yenta, it is closely tied to the cultural and linguistic traditions of Ashkenazi Jewish communities. The name's usage and popularity were primarily confined to these communities, reflecting their unique naming practices and cultural norms.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Yenta can be found in the works of Yiddish literature from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Writers such as Sholem Aleichem and I.L. Peretz often featured characters with the name Yenta in their stories, portraying the typical Jewish life and experiences of that era.
Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Yenta. One such individual was Yenta Mash (1898-1981), a Polish-born writer and journalist who was active in the Yiddish literary scene in the United States. Another notable Yenta was Yenta Levitt (1907-1993), an American artist and sculptor known for her abstract expressionist works.
Another historical figure with the name Yenta was Yenta Feldman (1899-1942), a Polish-Jewish resistance fighter who played a crucial role in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising during World War II. She was recognized for her bravery and determination in the face of adversity.
Additionally, Yenta Zuckerman (1901-1977) was a renowned Yiddish actress and performer who is considered a pioneer in the development of Yiddish theater in the United States. She was highly acclaimed for her performances and contributed significantly to preserving Yiddish culture through her art.
Lastly, Yenta Mazia (1905-1993) was a notable American artist and printmaker who gained recognition for her woodcut prints and engravings. Her works often depicted scenes from everyday life and were celebrated for their intricate details and artistic expression.
People
Yenta + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Yenta as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with Y
Other first names starting with Y with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Yenta: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Yenta?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 16 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Yenta going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 21,422,146 US residents.
Is Yenta a common name?
We classify Yenta as "Very Rare". It ranks above 36.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 16 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Yenta most popular?
The single biggest year for Yenta was 2013, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Yenta is about 17 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Yenta in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Yenta a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Yenta in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Yenta still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Yenta in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Yenta can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are called Yenta?
You can see how many Americans are named Yenta on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.