Valan
An Indian masculine name derived from the Tamil word "valan" meaning strong or mighty.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Valan. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Valan today is around 8 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Valan births was 2018 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Valan. 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 Valan. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2018
5 babies that year
Average age
8
years old
2018 SSA rank
#13,950
Tracked since 2018
Popularity
Valan: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Valan 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 Valan during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Valan
The name Valan has its origins in ancient Sanskrit, a classical language of South Asia that dates back to the 2nd millennium BCE. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "valam," which means "strength" or "power." This suggests that the name Valan was initially given to individuals who were perceived as possessing great physical or spiritual fortitude.
In Hindu mythology, Valan is mentioned as one of the names of Lord Shiva, the powerful deity associated with destruction and transformation. This connection further reinforces the meaning of the name as one symbolizing strength and resilience.
The earliest recorded use of the name Valan can be traced back to the 6th century CE, when it appeared in ancient Tamil literature from the southern region of the Indian subcontinent. One notable figure bearing this name was Valan Thamizhan, a celebrated Tamil poet and scholar who lived during the 7th century CE and made significant contributions to the development of the Tamil language and literature.
In the 12th century, Valan was also the name of a prominent Hindu saint and mystic from the Shaiva tradition, known for his devotional poetry and teachings on spirituality. His writings and teachings continue to inspire many followers to this day.
Moving forward in history, one of the most famous individuals named Valan was Valan Pandiyan, a king of the Pandyan Empire in southern India, who ruled during the 14th century CE. He was known for his military conquests and for patronizing the arts and culture during his reign.
Another notable figure was Valan Nair, an Indian freedom fighter and revolutionary who lived in the early 20th century. He played a significant role in the Indian independence movement against British colonial rule, and his sacrifices inspired many others to join the struggle for freedom.
It is worth mentioning that while the name Valan has its roots in South Asian cultures, it has also been adopted and used in various other parts of the world, often with slight variations in spelling or pronunciation. This serves as a testament to the name's enduring appeal and the cultural diffusion that has occurred throughout human history.
People
Valan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Valan as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with V
Other first names starting with V with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Valan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Valan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Valan 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 Valan a common name?
We classify Valan 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 Valan most popular?
The single biggest year for Valan was 2018, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Valan is about 8 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 Valan in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Valan a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Valan 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 Valan still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Valan 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 Valan 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 have Valan as a first name?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.