Wan first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Wan has been for the last 1 years (from 1992 to 1992) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Wan

A name of Chinese origin meaning "scholarly" or "accomplished".

Popularity of Wan by gender

Based on the last 1 years of data, Wan is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 1992, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Wan.

Year Male Count Female Count
1992 0 5

The history of the first name Wan

The name Wan has its origins in Chinese culture, where it is pronounced as "Wàn" in Mandarin Chinese. It is a unisex name that can be used for both males and females. The earliest recorded use of the name dates back to ancient Chinese texts and literature.

One of the earliest known references to the name Wan is found in the Classic of Poetry (Shijing), which is a collection of ancient Chinese poems and songs dating back to the 11th century BC. In this text, the name Wan is mentioned in several poems, often used as a poetic term for a beautiful or virtuous woman.

The name Wan is believed to have derived from the Chinese character "萬" or "万," which means "ten thousand" or "myriad." This character is associated with concepts of abundance, prosperity, and completeness in Chinese culture. As a result, the name Wan may have been given to children with the hope that they would live a life of abundance and prosperity.

In Chinese history, there are several notable figures who bore the name Wan. One of the earliest recorded is Wan Anshi (1021–1086), a famous Chinese scholar, statesman, and reformer during the Song Dynasty. He is renowned for his efforts to implement sweeping economic and political reforms, known as the New Policies.

Another prominent figure with the name Wan is Wan Li (1499–1568), who was the 14th emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He ruled from 1573 to 1620 and is known for his efforts to consolidate imperial power and suppress corruption within the government.

In more recent times, Wan Guoquan (1892–1936) was a Chinese communist revolutionary and one of the founding members of the Communist Party of China. He played a significant role in the early stages of the Chinese communist movement and was executed by the Kuomintang government in 1936.

Wan Qing (born 1988) is a contemporary Chinese actress and singer who has gained widespread popularity for her roles in various television dramas and films.

Wan Bissaka (born 1997) is a professional football player from England who currently plays as a defender for Manchester United and the England national team.

While the name Wan has its roots in Chinese culture, it has also been adopted and used in other parts of the world, particularly in Southeast Asia and among Chinese diaspora communities. However, its historical significance and cultural associations remain closely tied to its Chinese origins.

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

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

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"Wan first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 2, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/wan-meaning-and-history/.

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Wan first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/wan-meaning-and-history/.

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