What does Boris mean?
Boris is usually linked to the Slavic for “battle” or “fight.”
What does Yuri mean?
Yuri is the Russian form of George, “farmer” or “earth-worker.”
Boris vs Yuri
Which is more popular?
Yuri is more popular than Boris today: about 88 US babies were given the name Yuri in 2025, compared with 37 named Boris.
| Boris | Yuri | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Battle, fight | Farmer |
| Origin | Slavic | Slavic |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | BOR-iss | YOO-ree |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1911 | 1961 |
| Peak year | 1970 (82) | 2022 (93) |
| In 2025 | 37 | 88 |
| Trend | Declining | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Boris
Yuri
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Boris | Yuri |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 230 | 507 |
| 2010s | 507 | 629 |
| 2000s | 581 | 364 |
| 1990s | 603 | 270 |
| 1980s | 401 | 311 |
| 1970s | 481 | 269 |
| 1960s | 597 | 105 |
| 1950s | 287 | 0 |
| 1940s | 111 | 0 |
| 1930s | 237 | 0 |
| 1920s | 373 | 0 |
| 1910s | 213 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Boris or Yuri more popular?
Yuri is more popular than Boris today: about 88 US babies were given the name Yuri in 2025, compared with 37 named Boris.
What is the difference between Boris and Yuri?
Boris means Battle, fight (Slavic origin), while Yuri means Farmer (Slavic origin).
Which name is older, Boris or Yuri?
In US records, Boris first appears in 1911 and Yuri in 1961, so Boris has the longer recorded history.