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Name Lineage

    The first name Yan

    A unisex name.

    Pronounced /jæn/ 1 syllable Unisex Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    From the Hanyu Pinyin romanization of the Mandarin 嚴 /严 (yán).

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 8 boys were named Yan, making it the 2,664th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2009, with 11 births (#2,148).

    01020 1996200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    240
    babies named Yan, 1996–2025
    #2,664
    rank in 2025
    2009
    peak year

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

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Yan at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 58 boys born in the United States were named Yan, the 2,386th most popular boys’ name that year.

    03060 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    1,085
    babies named Yan since 1880
    #2,386
    rank in 2025
    2025
    peak year

    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.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Other spellings and forms

    • Yen

    Famous people named Yan

    29 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Mo Yan
      Chinese novelist and screenwriter, born 1955
    • Cai Yan
      3rd century Chinese poet and musician, 177–249
    • Yan Couto
      Brazilian footballer (born 2002)
    • Wang Yan
      Chinese racewalker, born 1971
    • Yan Sen
      Chinese table tennis player, born 1975
    • Guo Yan
      Chinese table tennis player, born 1982
    • Yan Pascal Tortelier
      French conductor and violinist, born 1947
    • Zhou Yan
      Chinese curler, born 1982
    • Yan Vorogovskiy
      Association football player, born 1996
    • Yan Stastny
      Canadian ice hockey player, born 1982
    • Wu Jinyan
      Chinese actress, born 1990
    • Yan Brice Eteki
      Association football player, born 1997

    Questions

    What does the name Yan mean?
    From the Hanyu Pinyin romanization of the Mandarin 嚴 /严 (yán).
    How popular is the name Yan?
    In 2025, 8 boys born in England and Wales were named Yan, ranking 2,664th. Its peak was 2009, with 11 births.
    Is Yan a boy's or a girl's name?
    Both. Of the 1,085 US babies named Yan since 1880, 9% were girls and 91% boys.
    When was Yan most popular?
    2025 in the United States, when 58 babies were named Yan, its highest rank at 2,386th.
    How do you pronounce Yan?
    Yan is /jæn/, one syllable.
    What are other spellings of Yan?
    Yen.
    Is Yan also a surname?
    Yes. Yan is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.