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Home › Baby Names Directory › Shan

Shan

♂ Boy

Pronounced SHAHN /ˈʃɑn/Medium

Meaning: Variously from the Chinese shan, 'a mountain; coral; good/virtuous' (by character), and a Tamil short form; also a short form of Shawn/Sean; routes layeredLow

In 30 seconds: A mountain; coral; good: Shan is Chinese/Tamil. Crisp, classic, and warm (said 'SHAHN'). Routes layered.
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Origin LowChinese, Tamil
MeaningVariously from the Chinese shan, 'a mountain; coral; good/virtuous' (by character), and a Tamil short form; also a short form of Shawn/Sean; routes layered
U.S. rank (2024)#9704 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births8 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1969
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,224

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 196919442024

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

Shan comes variously from the Chinese shan, 'a mountain; coral; good/virtuous' (by character), and a Tamil short form; also a short form of Shawn/Sean (routes layered, which we note). A crisp, classic name (said 'SHAHN').

In the U.S. it appears in Chinese, South Asian, and English-speaking families. Rare, a-mountain-and-coral at the root, and crisp.

Did you know? Shan is variously 'a mountain; coral; good' (Chinese, by character) and a Tamil/Shawn short form — a crisp, classic name (the routes are layered, which we note; said 'SHAHN').
Overall data confidence 28%
References — Shan — Chinese/Tamil; routes layered

Variations

ShaanShann

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Shan…

Shaan— a kin spelling
Shane— a sound-neighbor Sha- boys' name
Han— a fellow one-syllable Chinese boys' name
Jian— a companion Chinese boys' name

Explore names like Shan

By themeuncertainchinesetamil
By meaningPurityEarth / Nature

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Shan mean?

Shan is variously Chinese 'a mountain; coral; good' (by character) and a Tamil/Shawn short form; the routes are layered.

How do you pronounce Shan?

It's said SHAHN /ˈʃɑn/ — one syllable.

Is Shan a boy or girl name?

Shan is a boy's name here (it is also used for girls).

How popular is Shan?

Shan is a very rare name in the U.S.

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