Fun Facts About the Name Wan
- 15 babies named Wan: U.S. records list 15 babies given the name Wan from 1880 through 2025. Even 5 boys received the name Wan - about 1 boy for every 2 girls.
What Does the Name Wan Mean?
Wan is a Chinese given name. When it is written 婉 (wǎn), its literal meaning is "graceful," "gentle," or "tactful"; the character combines 女 ("woman") with the phonetic element 宛. Because English romanization usually drops tone and character distinctions, Wan can also stand for other given-name characters, so the spelling alone does not fix a single meaning. A separate and well-known use is the surname 万/萬 (wàn), meaning "ten thousand" or "myriad"; that meaning belongs to the surname, not to the 婉 given name.
Wan Name History & Origins
Because Wan is an English spelling rather than a single Chinese character, it does not have one continuous history like an inherited European name; the spelling can represent 婉 (wǎn), 万 (wàn), or other characters and tones. The character 婉 occurs in the Classic of Poetry (Shijing), in the line 清揚婉兮, where it describes a graceful appearance. The character 婉 has thus been available as a name element, though the English form Wan gives no indication of when a particular bearer's family chose it.
The surname 万/萬 has a separate history. Traditional genealogies trace it to Bi Wan, an official of the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period, whose descendants are said to have taken his personal name as a clan name. The character 萬 began as a pictograph of a scorpion in early Chinese writing and was later borrowed to write the numeral "ten thousand"; the simplified form 万 is standard in mainland China. The surname use and the 婉 given-name use are distinct, even though both can be spelled Wan.
How Popular is the Name Wan?
Wan has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1992. Its best rank was #4,574 in 1960.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | #15,550 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1955 | #6,706 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | #4,574 | 5 | 0.0002% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with W
Short Girl Names That Start with W
How the Name Wan Shapes Your Personality and Life?
To express itself, you must follow the divine law of love. You have great persistence and hate to give up. You are a good mixer, charming, magnetic and intuitive. The spirituality is the key to success. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Wan's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Wan's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.