Bisan
A female name of Arabic origin meaning "water spring" or "fertile land".
Name Census estimates that about 42 living Americans carry the first name Bisan. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Bisan today is around 13 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Bisan births was 2014 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Bisan. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Bisan with official rankings and popularity over time.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Bisan. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
42
~ 1 in 8,160,818 Americans
Peak year
2014
8 babies that year
Average age
13
years old
2024 SSA rank
#11,240
Tracked since 1989
Popularity
Bisan: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Bisan from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 20 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Bisan remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Bisan by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Bisan during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Bisan
The name Bisan is believed to have originated from the Persian language, derived from the word "bisan," which means "spring" or "wellspring." This suggests that the name may have initially been used to refer to individuals born during the spring season or associated with the idea of rebirth and renewal.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Bisan can be traced back to ancient Persia, where it was commonly used among the nobility and upper classes. It is possible that the name held symbolic significance in Persian culture, perhaps representing fertility, growth, or prosperity.
In medieval times, the name Bisan gained popularity in various regions of the Middle East and Central Asia, where Persian influence was strong. Historical records indicate that several notable figures bore this name during this period.
One of the earliest documented individuals with the name Bisan was Bisan al-Arabi (c. 950-1034), a renowned Arab mathematician and astronomer from present-day Iraq. His contributions to the development of algebra and the study of celestial bodies were highly influential in the Islamic Golden Age.
Another prominent figure was Bisan al-Qazwini (c. 1180-1283), a Persian scholar and writer who authored several works on geography, history, and natural sciences. His book, "Wonders of Creation," was a comprehensive encyclopedia that covered a wide range of topics and was widely read throughout the Islamic world.
In the 14th century, Bisan al-Hafiz (c. 1325-1389) was a celebrated Persian poet and calligrapher who served at the court of the Timurid dynasty. His poetic works, renowned for their lyrical beauty and profound insights, have been preserved and studied by scholars for generations.
During the Mughal Empire in South Asia, Bisan Khan (c. 1590-1640) was a prominent military commander who played a significant role in the conquest of the Deccan plateau. His valor and strategic prowess earned him the respect of his contemporaries and a place in the annals of Mughal history.
In more recent times, Bisan Masri (1892-1963) was a Palestinian feminist and educator who advocated for women's rights and education in the early 20th century. She founded several schools and organizations dedicated to empowering women and promoting their active participation in society.
While the name Bisan has its roots in the Persian language and culture, it has since been adopted and used in various parts of the world, particularly in regions with historical ties to the Middle East and Central Asia. The name continues to carry connotations of renewal, vitality, and intellectual endeavors, reflecting its rich historical legacy.
People
Bisan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Bisan as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with B
Other first names starting with B with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Bisan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Bisan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 42 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Bisan going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 8,160,818 US residents.
Is Bisan a common name?
We classify Bisan as "Very Rare". It ranks above 51.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 43 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Bisan most popular?
The single biggest year for Bisan was 2014, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Bisan is about 13 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Bisan in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Bisan a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Bisan in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Bisan still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Bisan in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Bisan can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are called Bisan?
You can see how many people share the name Bisan on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.