Chan
Chan is a boy's name of Chinese origin.
Meaning
Moon; sandalwood; or a Cantonese romanization of various Chinese roots.
Origin and history
Chan is a short name of varied Asian origin, commonly occurring as a Cantonese romanization of Chinese surnames/given names or as a Khmer given name meaning 'moon' or 'sandalwood'. In the United States, it has been used as a rare given name primarily in immigrant communities from East and Southeast Asia. Overall, it remains a distinct and uncommon choice in contemporary U.S. birth records.
Popularity in the United States
1,035 babies in the United States have been named Chan since 1880. It ranks #3649 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1901.
States where it is most popular
- CA (89.8 %)
- KS (5.1 %)
- TX (5.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 6 |
| 1920-1930 | 19 |
| 1930-1940 | 38 |
| 1940-1950 | 48 |
| 1950-1960 | 87 |
| 1960-1970 | 127 |
| 1970-1980 | 155 |
| 1980-1990 | 199 |
| 1990-2000 | 143 |
| 2000-2010 | 103 |
| 2010-2019 | 84 |
| 2020-2029 | 26 |
Fun facts
- Chan serves as a given name in Cambodia meaning moon or sandalwood, and as a romanized Chinese character in various dialects.
- Chan is the Chinese word for the tradition of Mahayana Buddhism known in Japan as Zen.