Qujuan
A unisex name of mysterious origin and meaning
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Qujuan. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Qujuan today is around 28 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Qujuan births was 1998 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Qujuan. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Qujuan. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1998
5 babies that year
Average age
28
years old
1998 SSA rank
#10,903
Tracked since 1998
Popularity
Qujuan: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Qujuan 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 Qujuan during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Qujuan
The given name Qujuan is a relatively uncommon and intriguing one, with its origins shrouded in mystery. It is believed to have originated in ancient China, with its earliest known references dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). Some scholars suggest that the name may be derived from the Chinese words "qu," meaning "noble" or "distinguished," and "juan," meaning "gentle" or "graceful."
One of the earliest known references to the name Qujuan can be found in a collection of Tang Dynasty poetry, where it is mentioned as the name of a court lady known for her beauty and elegance. The poet described her as possessing a "gentle grace that outshone the moon," suggesting that the name was associated with feminine charm and refinement.
In the centuries that followed, the name Qujuan appeared sporadically in various Chinese historical records and literary works. One notable figure bearing this name was Qujuan Li, a renowned calligrapher and painter who lived during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD). Her exquisite works were celebrated for their delicate brushstrokes and masterful use of negative space, reflecting the qualities often associated with the name.
During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), a scholar named Qujuan Zhang gained recognition for his contributions to the study of Confucian philosophy. His writings emphasized the importance of cultivating inner virtue and harmony, values that resonated with the name's connotations of nobility and grace.
Another significant figure was Qujuan Xu, a military strategist and advisor to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 AD) emperor. Despite the name's traditionally feminine associations, Qujuan Xu was renowned for her tactical brilliance and unwavering loyalty, demonstrating that the name could also represent strength and resilience.
In more recent times, the name Qujuan has remained relatively uncommon, but a few individuals have carried it with distinction. Qujuan Wang, born in 1925, was a celebrated Chinese actress known for her portrayal of strong, independent women in various film and stage productions. Her performances challenged traditional gender roles and embodied the spirit of the name's multi-faceted nature.
While the exact origins of the name Qujuan may remain obscure, its rich history and associations with grace, nobility, and inner strength have endured throughout the centuries. From ancient poetry to modern artistic expressions, this intriguing name has left an indelible mark on Chinese culture and continues to captivate those who appreciate its unique blend of elegance and resilience.
People
Qujuan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Qujuan as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with Q
Other first names starting with Q with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Qujuan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Qujuan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Qujuan 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Qujuan a common name?
We classify Qujuan as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Qujuan most popular?
The single biggest year for Qujuan was 1998, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Qujuan is about 28 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 Qujuan in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Qujuan a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Qujuan in the SSA data are male. 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 Qujuan still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Qujuan 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 Qujuan 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 common is the name Qujuan?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.