How popular is the baby name Yiannis in the United States right now? How popular was it historically? Use the popularity graph and data table below to find out! Plus, see all the blog posts that mention the name Yiannis.

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Popularity of the baby name Yiannis


Posts that mention the name Yiannis

Where did the baby name Crissangel come from in 2007?

Title of the TV series "Criss Angel Mindfreak" (2005-2010)
“Criss Angel Mindfreak”

The name Crissangel appeared for the first and only time in the U.S. baby name data in 2007:

  • 2009: unlisted
  • 2008: unlisted
  • 2007: 5 baby boys named Crissangel [debut]
  • 2006: unlisted
  • 2005: unlisted

The similar names Chrisangel and Crisangel also popped up in the early 2000s.

Where did these names come from?

Magician and illusionist Criss Angel, whose reality series Criss Angel Mindfreak aired on A&E from 2005 to 2010. The show, focused on street magic and stunts, had episodes with titles like “Shark Cage Escape,” “Mass Levitation,” “SUV Nail Bed,” and “Burning Man.”

Criss Angel was born in New York in 1967 as Christopher Nicholas Sarantakos. (He’s of Greek descent.) These days he primarily performs live shows in Las Vegas.

He also has three children with his wife, Shaunyl. Their names are:

  • Johnny Crisstopher, b. 2014
  • Xristos Yanni, b. 2019
  • Illusia Angelina, b. 2021

His sons’ names echo one another in that “Johnny” and “Yanni” are diminutives of John and Yiannis (a Greek equivalent of John), and “Crisstopher” and “Xristos” are both based on the ancient Greek word khristos (“anointed one”).

His daughter’s first name, Illusia, is clearly a reference to dad’s line of work.

What are your thoughts on the baby name Crissangel?

Sources: Criss Angel – Wikipedia, Criss Angel Mindfreak – IMDb, Behind the Name

Where did the baby name Yanni come from in 1992?

Yanni's album "Dare to Dream (1992).
Yanni album

The name Yanni first appeared in the U.S. baby name data in 1992:

  • 1994: 25 baby boys and 6 baby girls named Yanni
  • 1993: 15 baby boys and 9 baby girls named Yanni
  • 1992: 6 baby boys named Yanni [debut]
  • 1991: unlisted
  • 1990: unlisted

Where did it come from?

Greek keyboardist/composer Yanni (pronounced YAH-nee), whose Grammy-nominated eighth album, Dare to Dream (1992), was one of his most successful.

Dare to Dream included the song “Aria,” which was originally written for the now-classic British Airways “Face” commercial [vid] of 1989. (The mega-popular Yanni Live at the Acropolis didn’t come out until 1994.)

Yanni was born Yiannis Chryssomallis in Kalamata, Greece, in 1953. The Greek name Yiannis is the equivalent of the English name John; both names can be traced back to the Hebrew name Yochanan, which means “Yahweh is gracious.”

What are your thoughts on the baby name Yanni?

Sources: Behind the Name, Yanni – Wikipedia

P.S. Enya is another New Age baby name…