What does Yui mean?
Yui is commonly written with kanji meaning “gentleness,” or “to bind/tie” together with “clothing.”
What does Airi mean?
Airi commonly pairs the kanji for “love” with “pear blossom” or “jasmine.”
Yui vs Airi
Which is more popular?
Airi is more popular than Yui today: about 36 US babies were given the name Airi in 2025, compared with 20 named Yui.
| Yui | Airi | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Gentle; bind | Love; jasmine |
| Origin | Japanese | Japanese |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | YOO-ee | AH-ee-ree |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1989 | 1993 |
| Peak year | 2016 (32) | 2025 (36) |
| In 2025 | 20 | 36 |
| Trend | Steady | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Yui
Airi
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Yui | Airi |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 119 | 153 |
| 2010s | 214 | 168 |
| 2000s | 139 | 61 |
| 1990s | 94 | 19 |
| 1980s | 8 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Yui or Airi more popular?
Airi is more popular than Yui today: about 36 US babies were given the name Airi in 2025, compared with 20 named Yui.
What is the difference between Yui and Airi?
Yui means Gentle; bind (Japanese origin), while Airi means Love; jasmine (Japanese origin).
Which name is older, Yui or Airi?
In US records, Yui first appears in 1989 and Airi in 1993, so Yui has the longer recorded history.