Find out how popular the first name Quan has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Quan by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Quan is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 98% of people named Quan being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 16 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Quan.

The history of the first name Quan

The name Quan has its origins in the Chinese language, where it is a common given name for both males and females. The name is derived from the Chinese character "全" which means "whole" or "complete". It is believed to have been in use as a given name for over a thousand years, with records of the name appearing in ancient Chinese texts and historical records.

One of the earliest known references to the name Quan can be found in the Analects of Confucius, a collection of sayings and teachings attributed to the Chinese philosopher Confucius (551-479 BC). In this text, there is a mention of a person named Quan Zhong, who was a disciple of Confucius.

In Chinese history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Quan. One of the most famous was Quan Deyu (1759-1844), a Chinese scholar and philosopher who was known for his work on neo-Confucianism. Another notable figure was Quan Zuwang (1705-1755), a Chinese painter and calligrapher who was renowned for his landscape paintings and calligraphic works.

Outside of China, the name Quan has also been used in other cultures and regions. In Vietnam, for example, the name Quan is a variant of the more common name Quang, which also has its roots in Chinese. One notable Vietnamese figure who bore the name Quan was Quan Thuan (1948-2021), a Vietnamese-American writer and poet who was known for his works exploring themes of identity and exile.

In Japan, the name Quan is sometimes used as a variant of the Japanese name Kuan or Kan, which share similar meanings and origins with the Chinese name. One famous Japanese individual with the name Quan was Quan Zhi (1692-1758), a Confucian scholar and philosopher who was influential in the spread of neo-Confucianism in Japan.

Another notable bearer of the name Quan was Quan Fu (1837-1888), a Chinese diplomat and statesman who played a significant role in the late Qing dynasty. He served as the Qing Empire's ambassador to various countries, including Russia and the United States, and was known for his efforts to modernize China's diplomatic relations with foreign nations.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have borne the name Quan. While the name has its origins in Chinese culture, its use has transcended borders and has been adopted by various other cultures and regions over the centuries.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Quan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Quan, please contact us.

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