Yahshua is an argued transliteration of the original Hebrew or Aramaic name of Jesus commonly used by individuals in the Sacred Name Movement.
The English spelling Yahshua originates at least as early as 1950 with Angelo Traina The New Testament of our Messiah and Saviour Yahshua. The form Yahshua is used in some Sacred Name Bibles, including the Restoration Original Sacred Name Bible, Word of Yahweh and the Sacred Name King James Bible.
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The spelling Yahshuah (יהשע) is not found in Hebrew texts. The Hebrew Bible uses Yehoshuah (יהושע), and later Yeshua, for Joshua, which means "Yah is Salvation." Christians, historians, and linguists outside the sacred name movement for the most part reject the term Yahshua in favor of Yeshua (ישוע) as the original pronunciation.[1]
The transcription of Hebrew-alphabet יהושע as Latin-alphabet "Yahshua" is first documented during the early days of the Sacred Name movement in the 1930s, perhaps developed by leaders such as Angelo B. Traina and C.O. Dodd.
Those who follow Sacred Name teachings (such as the Assemblies of Yahweh) believe that it is essential to salvation to use the correct pronunciation.
"Yahshua" supporters teach that since the Messiah will "come in his Father's Name",{John 5:43} then he must have the name of Yahweh, or at least the abbreviated form (Yah) in his spoken name. Another popular contraction is Yah'shua with the apostrophe ( ’ ) serving as a division to emphasise the "Yah" aspect of the name and the Hebrew shua (salvation), found in the Natural Israelite Bible, English Version.
It is also evidenced by noting in the Hebrew book of names, many names contain Yah or El which are derivatives of the divine name Yahweh and the Divine title Elohim.
Critics say that in their labor to get the pronunciation "Yahshua" out of יהושע, they are ignoring Hebrew linguistics that do not allow the waw to be silent, so "Yahshua" is a questioned translation. Furthermore, it is argued by some that this pronunciation is not attested in antiquity, unlike the pronunciation "Yehoshua".