An

♂ Boy

Pronounced AHN /ˈɑn/Medium

Meaning: From Chinese an, 'peace, tranquility', and Vietnamese An, 'peace, safety'; here for boys; routes layeredMedium

In 30 seconds: Peace in one beat: An is Chinese and Vietnamese for 'peace, tranquility' — here for boys. Serene, minimal, and strong.

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Origin MediumChinese, Vietnamese

MeaningFrom Chinese an, 'peace, tranquility', and Vietnamese An, 'peace, safety'; here for boys; routes layered

U.S. rank (2025)#4142 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births25 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1997

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,126

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

An comes from Chinese an, 'peace, tranquility', and Vietnamese An, 'peace, safety' (routes layered, which we note). A serene, minimal name across East Asia, here for boys.

In the U.S. it appears in Chinese and Vietnamese families. Rare, peace at the root, and serene.

Did you know? An means 'peace, tranquility' in Chinese — and 'peace, safety' in Vietnamese; a serene, single-syllable name used across East Asia for both sexes.

Overall data confidence 78%

Chinese/Vietnamese references — An — routes layered

Variations

AnhAnn

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★An Lushan (703-757)
Tang dynasty general of Sogdian-Turkic origin who led the devastating An Lushan Rebellion

If you like An…

Kai— a fellow short name

Minh— a companion Vietnamese name

Ren— echoes that soft -n sound

Sai— another Vietnamese name

Tai— another Chinese name

Explore names like An

By themechinese short-and-sweet vietnamese

By meaningPeace

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Frequently Asked

What does the name An mean?

An is Chinese and Vietnamese for 'peace, tranquility'.

How do you pronounce An?

It's said AHN /ˈɑn/ — a single syllable.

Is An a boy or girl name?

An is used for both sexes; this page covers its use as a boy's name.

How popular is An?

An is a rare name in the U.S.