Holding steady, #970 for boys today.
Popularity of Van since 1880
Babies named Van per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1954, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Van's real moment was 1891.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 6 | 356 |
| 1890s | 0 | 363 |
| 1900s | 24 | 362 |
| 1910s | 54 | 1,290 |
| 1920s | 109 | 2,163 |
| 1930s | 89 | 1,947 |
| 1940s | 109 | 3,764 |
| 1950s | 190 | 5,090 |
| 1960s | 144 | 3,933 |
| 1970s | 111 | 1,741 |
| 1980s | 410 | 1,414 |
| 1990s | 178 | 1,031 |
| 2000s | 102 | 1,807 |
| 2010s | 178 | 2,656 |
| 2020s | 58 | 1,515 |
Meaning & origin
Van is a short, punchy name with an air of mystery regarding its exact origins. It may have emerged as a clipped form of longer names like Vance or as a standalone surname name. The name reached its highest popularity in the United States in 1891, when it peaked in rank. Since then, its usage has been stable, with a modest presence in the modern era: in 2025, it ranked 970th, occurring in roughly 1 of every 7,238 male births. The name was first recorded in the Social Security data in 1880, the very first year of recordkeeping. Historically, Van has been most popular in Utah, Louisiana, and Kansas. Its concise sound and classic feel make it a straightforward choice for parents seeking a name that is both simple and distinctive.
Van has multiple possible origins. It can be a short form of English names such as Vance or Vanity, or an independent given name derived from the common Dutch surname prefix 'van' meaning 'from'. It also appears as a diminutive of Ivan (a Slavic form of John) in some contexts. The name saw modest use in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States, particularly in Utah, Louisiana, and Kansas.
Where Van is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Van” around the world
Where Van lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
New Zealand
10
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand).
Sibling names for Van
Names that share Van's style, for a brother or sister.
