Yaniv is of Hebrew origin, meaning 'answer' or 'response'. It is a gender-neutral given name that has been popular in Israel and among Jewish communities worldwide. Yaniv is composed of two elements: 'Yan' which means 'to answer', and 'iv' which signifies 'it'. The name gained prominence during the mid-20th century, coinciding with the establishment of the State of Israel.
The name Yaniv has seen a steady increase in popularity since the late 1970s, with notable peaks in the mid-1980s and early 2000s. It experienced a significant spike in usage during 1985, with 12 births recorded that year alone. Despite fluctuations over time, Yaniv has maintained consistent popularity throughout the decades, with a total of 268 babies named Yaniv born between 1979 and 2022.