Xoan
A masculine name of Galician origin, possibly derived from the given name Juan.
Name Census estimates that about 14 living Americans carry the first name Xoan. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Xoan today is around 4 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Xoan births was 2023 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Xoan. 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 Xoan. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
14
~ 1 in 24,482,453 Americans
Peak year
2023
9 babies that year
Average age
4
years old
2023 SSA rank
#8,879
Tracked since 2021
Popularity
Xoan: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Xoan 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 Xoan during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 14 | 0 | 14 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Xoan
The name Xoan is a Galician variation of the name Juan, which is derived from the Hebrew name Yohanan, meaning "Graced by God" or "Yahweh is gracious". It is a masculine given name that originated in Galicia, an autonomous community located in northwestern Spain.
The name Xoan has its roots in the ancient Hebrew language and can be traced back to the biblical figure John the Baptist, who was known as Yohanan in Hebrew. As Christianity spread throughout Europe, the name underwent various linguistic transformations, eventually becoming Juan in Spanish and its Galician counterpart, Xoan.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Xoan can be found in the 12th-century Galician-Portuguese poetry anthology known as the Cantigas de Santa Maria, composed by King Alfonso X of Castile and León. In this collection, the name appears in several cantigas (poems) dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Xoan. One of the most renowned was Xoan de Cangas (c. 1380-1437), a Galician poet and clergyman who played a significant role in the development of Galician literature during the Middle Ages.
Another prominent figure was Xoan Vicente Viqueira (1886-1924), a Galician writer, journalist, and playwright who contributed greatly to the cultural renaissance of Galicia in the early 20th century. His works, such as A Terra Calada and O Fidalgo, explored themes of Galician identity and rural life.
In the realm of visual arts, Xoan Lourenzo (1936-2000) was a renowned Galician painter and sculptor known for his abstract and expressionist works. His pieces are celebrated for their vibrant colors and explorations of Galician cultural themes.
Another notable figure was Xoan Cabana (1966-2005), a Galician writer and journalist who played a pivotal role in promoting the use of the Galician language in the media and literature. His works, including the novel Pequena Grea, explored contemporary Galician society and culture.
Lastly, Xoan Fraga (1959-2008) was a Galician musician and composer who gained recognition for his contributions to the Galician folk and traditional music scene. His compositions blended traditional Galician melodies with modern elements, helping to preserve and promote the region's rich musical heritage.
People
Xoan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Xoan as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with X
Other first names starting with X with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Xoan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Xoan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 14 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Xoan 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 24,482,453 US residents.
Is Xoan a common name?
We classify Xoan as "Very Rare". It ranks above 34% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 14 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Xoan most popular?
The single biggest year for Xoan was 2023, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Xoan is about 4 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 Xoan in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Xoan a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Xoan 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 Xoan still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Xoan 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 Xoan 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 are named Xoan?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.