San

♀ Girl

Pronounced SAHN /ˈsɑːn/Medium

Meaning: A crisp one-syllable name. San is the wolf-raised heroine of the film Princess Mononoke, and in Japanese san is a common honorific ('Mr./Ms.'). As a given name its route is uncertain.Low

In 30 seconds: A crisp single beat: San is a Princess Mononoke heroine and a Japanese honorific (said 'SAHN'). Minimal - routes uncertain, which we note.

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Origin LowJapanese

MeaningA crisp one-syllable name. San is the wolf-raised heroine of the film Princess Mononoke, and in Japanese san is a common honorific ('Mr./Ms.'). As a given name its route is uncertain.

U.S. rank (2024)#17204 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1950

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,868

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

San is a spare, single-syllable name - a Princess Mononoke character and a Japanese honorific. As a given name its route is uncertain, which we note - very rare in the U.S. (said 'SAHN').

In the U.S. it appears very rarely as a given name. Rare, minimal, and striking.

Did you know? San is a one-syllable name best known as the wolf-raised heroine of Princess Mononoke; in Japanese, san is also a courtesy honorific. Its route as a given name is uncertain, which we note (said 'SAHN').

Overall data confidence 30%

References - San — Princess Mononoke character / Japanese honorific; uncertain

Variations

SannSahnSana

Nicknames

SannyNini

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like San…

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Explore names like San

By themeuncertain short japanese minimal

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Frequently Asked

What does the name San mean?

San is a short name - a Princess Mononoke character and a Japanese honorific. Its route as a given name is uncertain, which we note.

How do you pronounce San?

It's said SAHN /ˈsɑːn/ - one syllable, stress on the first.

Is San a boy or girl name?

San is a girl's name.

How popular is San?

San is a rare name in the U.S.