Rising since 1992, #2,363 for boys today.
Popularity of Yan since 1971
Babies named Yan per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0 | 24 |
| 1980s | 10 | 121 |
| 1990s | 13 | 90 |
| 2000s | 55 | 259 |
| 2010s | 21 | 268 |
| 2020s | 0 | 224 |
Meaning & origin
Yan is a name with diverse cultural roots, entering the U.S. naming landscape gradually. First recorded in the Social Security data in 1971, it has seen a steady upward trajectory, particularly since 1992. In 2025, it ranked 2,363 and occurred at a rate of 1 in 29,450 births. Its peak year to date is 2025, reflecting ongoing growth. The name is most common in New Jersey, Florida, and California, states with large Chinese and Eastern European communities. This blend of origins gives Yan a modern, global feel without a single dominant association.
Yan has multiple distinct origins. In Chinese, it can derive from various characters, most commonly 严 (yán, 'strict') or 燕 (yàn, 'swallow'), and is a common surname and given name. In Slavic languages, Yan is a variant of Jan, itself a form of John, ultimately from Hebrew Yochanan ('God is gracious'). The Slavic use is widespread in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. In the United States, the name's popularity since the 1970s likely reflects both Chinese immigration and Slavic heritage.
Where Yan is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Yan” around the world
Where Yan lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
15
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Yan
Names that share Yan's style, for a brother or sister.
