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

Popularity of Taiwan by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Taiwan is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 93% of people named Taiwan being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 6 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Taiwan.

The history of the first name Taiwan

The name Taiwan is believed to have its origins in the indigenous Austronesian languages spoken by the aboriginal inhabitants of the island. The word "Taiwan" is thought to be derived from the Proto-Austronesian root word "tan," meaning "people" or "human," and the word "i-ban," meaning "from there." Together, the name "Taiwan" suggests a meaning of "the people from there."

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name "Taiwan" can be found in the 17th century, when Dutch and Portuguese sailors referred to the island as "Ilha Formosa" (Beautiful Island) and "Taioan." Over time, the name "Taiwan" became more widely used, appearing in various historical records and maps.

While the name "Taiwan" itself does not have a direct historical reference in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it reflects the island's rich cultural heritage and its connection to the indigenous Austronesian peoples who inhabited the region for thousands of years.

Throughout history, there have been a few notable individuals who have borne the first name Taiwan. One of the earliest was Taiwan Chao (born in 1898), a Chinese scholar and linguist who specialized in the study of Taiwanese languages and dialects. Another notable figure was Taiwan Horigome (1906-1974), a Japanese sculptor and artist known for his works depicting traditional Taiwanese themes and motifs.

In more recent times, Taiwan Yeung (born in 1962) is a Hong Kong-based artist and designer whose works often explore themes of identity and cultural heritage. Taiwan Jones (born in 1988) is an American basketball player who played professionally in several countries, including Taiwan.

It's worth noting that while the name "Taiwan" is primarily associated with the island and its cultural identity, it has also been used as a given name by individuals from various backgrounds and nationalities, reflecting the global influence and recognition of Taiwan's unique cultural heritage.

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 Taiwan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!