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