Home › Baby Names Directory › Rashan

Rashan

♂ Boy

How to Pronounce Rashan

Pronounced ruh-SHAHN /rəˈʃɑn/Medium

Meaning: Rashan is either a form of the American coinage Rashawn (Ra- plus Shawn) or the Arabic name Rashan, glossed 'young gazelle'; both readings are current.Low

In 30 seconds: Rashan reads two ways — as a short form of the coined Rashawn, or as the Arabic Rashan, 'young gazelle' — a smooth late-century boys' name that peaked in the late seventies (said ruh-SHAHN).

💕 Browse more names

Origin LowArabic, English

MeaningRashan is either a form of the American coinage Rashawn (Ra- plus Shawn) or the Arabic name Rashan, glossed 'young gazelle'; both readings are current.

U.S. rank (2022)#10605 ↗ Rising

2022 U.S. births7 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1979

Total births (all-time)≈ 935

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

Rashan has two plausible sources. It can be a clipped form of Rashawn, the American coinage joining the Ra- prefix to Shawn (from Sean, 'God is gracious'); or it can be the Arabic name Rashan, traditionally read as 'young gazelle'. Both fit its era and communities of use.

The name grew with the Rashad and Rashawn wave of the nineteen-seventies, peaked around 1979, and eased off later in the century. It reads as a name of its period, familiar chiefly to Generation X, and has not seen a fresh revival.

Did you know? Rashan crested around 1979, among the Ra-/-shawn names such as Rashad and Rashawn popular in Black American communities.

Overall data confidence 52%

Behind the Name — Rashad — Ra- names; Arabic and coined readings

Variations

RashawnRashaunRashon

Nicknames

RashShan

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Rashan…

Rashawn— the fuller coinage Rashan echoes

Rashad— a like Ra- boys' name of the era

Deshawn— shares the Shawn element and rhythm

Rasheed— another Ra- Arabic-rooted boys' name

Explore names like Rashan

By thememodern heritage

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Rashan mean?

Rashan is either a form of Rashawn or the Arabic name Rashan, traditionally 'young gazelle'.

How do you pronounce Rashan?

It's said ruh-SHAHN /rəˈʃɑn/ — two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Rashan a boy or girl name?

Rashan is used as a boy's name, tied to Rashawn and Arabic Rashan.

How popular is Rashan?

Rashan is an uncommon boys' name that was most popular in the late nineteen-seventies.