Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Yan
BoyChinese, Slavic· “varies; Chinese name or form of John”
- Meaning
- varies; Chinese name or form of John
- Origin
- Chinese, Slavic
- Pronunciation
- YAHN
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #2,386
- US babies 2025
- 58
- Best rank
- #2,386 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Yan
Yan is a Chinese and Slavic name that is usually said to mean “varies; Chinese name or form of John”.
Yan is a name with several unrelated sources. In Chinese, Yan is both a common surname and a given name that can be written with many different characters, with meanings such as swallow, beautiful, or stern. In Russian, Belarusian and Ukrainian, Yan is a form of John, from the Hebrew Yochanan, God is gracious, and in Polish and Czech the same name is written Jan. It is said YAHN. Because the meaning depends on the language and the characters chosen, families of Chinese heritage usually pick the characters with care. It is short and easy for English speakers.
Popularity over time
Yan first appears in US Social Security records in 1971. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. It is at its all-time high right now: 2025 brought both its best national rank, #2,386, and its highest count, 58 babies. Use has grown 222% in ten years.
Its national rank moved from #3,429 in 1980, #5,903 in 2000, #3,891 in 2010, and #2,386 in 2025. Of the 986 US boys named Yan since records began, 27% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 259 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Elder, Teodoro, Zeno, Marwan, and Ferris.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Yan ranked highest in New Jersey, Florida, and California.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | #1178 | 5 |
| Florida | #1189 | 11 |
| California | #1822 | 9 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 94% of US babies named Yan over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
Yan is usually pronounced YAHN, with one syllable. It has three letters, starts with Y and ends in “-an”.
Middle names for Yan
A few middle names that flow with Yan: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Yan
Similar names
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Juan Boy
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Lists that include Yan
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Yan mean?
Yan is a Chinese and Slavic name that is usually said to mean “varies; Chinese name or form of John”.
What is the origin of the name Yan?
Yan has Chinese and Slavic roots. Yan is a name with several unrelated sources.
Is Yan a popular name?
Not especially. Yan ranked #2,386 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Yan a boy or girl name?
Yan is mainly a boy's name. About 94% of US babies named Yan over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
How do you pronounce Yan?
Yan is usually pronounced YAHN. 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