The first name Van

In 2025, 3 boys were named Van, making it the 5,137th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2020, with 7 births (#2,682).

Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Van with other names.

In 2025, 236 boys born in the United States were named Van, the 972nd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1954, when 573 were.

US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

• Van Heflin
  American actor (1908–1971)
• Van Johnson
  American actor (1916–2008)
• Van Jones
  American environmental advocate and civil rights activist, born 1968
• Van Williams
  American actor (1934–2016)
• Van McCoy
  American musician, producer and songwriter (1940–1979)
• Van Alexander
  American bandleader, arranger, and composer (1915–2015)
• Van Taylor
  American businessman and politician, born 1972
• Van Hansis
  American television, stage, and film actor, born 1981
• Van Jacobson
  Computer scientist and primary contributor to the TCP/IP protocol, born 1950
• Van Partible
  American animator, born 1971
• Hieu Van Le
  Former Australian governor of Vietnamese origin, born 1954
• Van Leo
  Egyptian photographer (1921–2002)

What does the name Van mean?

Shortening.

How popular is the name Van?

In 2025, 3 boys born in England and Wales were named Van, ranking 5,137th. Its peak was 2020, with 7 births.

Is Van a boy's or a girl's name?

Both. Of the 31,194 US babies named Van since 1880, 6% were girls and 94% boys.

When was Van most popular?

1954 in the United States, when 573 babies were named Van, its highest rank at 298th.

How do you pronounce Van?

Van is /væn/, one syllable.

Is Van also a surname?

Yes. Van is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.