The album title is rooted in the idea of "yielding to nature", a theme central to Daniel Quinn's novel "Ishmael". The band members read the book while working on the album. Regarding the title, McCready said, "I think the title "Yield" has to do with maybe being more comfortable within ourselves, with this band...we're all a little bit older and a little more relaxed and maybe just kind of yielding to those anxieties and not trying to fight it so much...That's what it kind of feels to me – yielding, letting something else happen and going with it." Vedder said, "Let's say that hypothetically speaking, the title does mean something...You can fight so much, and then you have to think, 'What are the real battles?' 'What's really important?' You get to a certain point, and it's really hard to remember what music is and to remember what drives you."