Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Sian
UnisexWelsh, Hebrew· “Welsh form of Jane, God is gracious”
- Meaning
- Welsh form of Jane, God is gracious
- Origin
- Welsh, Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- SHAHN
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #16,925
- US babies 2025
- 5
- Best rank
- #2,675 (1974)
- Peak year
- 2006
Meaning and origin of Sian
Sian is a Welsh and Hebrew name that means “Welsh form of Jane, God is gracious”.
Sian is the Welsh name Siân, a form of Jane or Jeanne, which go back to the Hebrew Yochanan, God is gracious. In Welsh the Si- spelling stands for a sh sound, so Siân is said SHAHN. It has long been a common girl's name in Wales, and English speakers outside Wales sometimes read it as see-AHN. In the US it is used for both boys and girls. Siân, with the accent, is the Welsh spelling. The name is short, Celtic in feel, and closely tied to Welsh identity.
Popularity over time
Sian first appears in US Social Security records in 1962. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #2,675 in 1974, and the most babies received it in 2006, when 35 were named Sian. In 2025, 5 babies were named Sian, and it ranked #16,925 nationally. That is 58% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #6,711 in 1980, #6,763 in 2000, #16,691 in 2010, and #16,925 in 2025. Of the 858 US girls named Sian since records began, 29% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 144 babies. Since 2010, 165 more have been named Sian.
Other babies' names that peaked around the same time include Tamari, Breeze, Corin, Avry, and Danyel.
Gender, sound and spelling
Sian is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 65% of US babies named Sian were girls and 35% were boys.
Sian is usually pronounced SHAHN, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with S and ends in “-an”.
Middle names for Sian
A few middle names that flow with Sian: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Sian
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Lists that include Sian
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sian mean?
Sian is a Welsh and Hebrew name that means “Welsh form of Jane, God is gracious”.
What is the origin of the name Sian?
Sian has Welsh and Hebrew roots. Sian is the Welsh name Siân, a form of Jane or Jeanne, which go back to the Hebrew Yochanan, God is gracious.
Is Sian a popular name?
Not especially. Sian ranked #16,925 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Sian a boy or girl name?
Sian is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 65% of US babies named Sian were girls and 35% were boys.
How do you pronounce Sian?
Sian is usually pronounced SHAHN. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings