Yan
Yan is a boy's name of Chinese origin.
Meaning
Depending on the Chinese character, it can mean 'swallow (bird)', 'cliff', 'gorgeous', or 'graceful'.
Origin and history
Yan is a name of primary Chinese origin, representing various characters such as those meaning swallow, cliff, or beauty depending on the written Hanzi. In the United States, it is a rare male name that has seen a modest rise in recent years. It is favored by families seeking a short, modern name with strong cultural heritage.
Popularity in the United States
986 babies in the United States have been named Yan since 1880. It ranks #3696 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1703.
States where it is most popular
- FL (42.6 %)
- CA (28.7 %)
- NY (21.5 %)
- IL (2.4 %)
- NJ (2.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 0 |
| 1960-1970 | 0 |
| 1970-1980 | 24 |
| 1980-1990 | 121 |
| 1990-2000 | 90 |
| 2000-2010 | 259 |
| 2010-2019 | 268 |
| 2020-2029 | 224 |
Famous people named Yan
- Yan Bingtao: Snooker player
Fun facts
- Because Chinese is a tonal language with many homophones, Yan can convey completely different meanings based on the character chosen.
- Although relatively rare historically, over twenty percent of all U.S. male births registered under the name Yan occurred between 2020 and 2025.