Tan

♂ Boy

Pronounced TAHN /ˈtɑn/Medium

Meaning: Tan is chiefly a Vietnamese given name from 'tan', 'new, fresh', carried in Vietnamese with a tone the English spelling drops; the same short form serves as a Chinese and Hmong surname as well. It entered American records mainly through Southeast-Asian immigrant families after 1975, and should not be confused with the English word for a color or a suntan.Low

In 30 seconds: Tan is a Vietnamese name meaning 'new', also a Chinese and Hmong surname. It arrived with Southeast-Asian immigrant families and is unrelated to the English word (said 'TAHN').

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Origin MediumVietnamese

MeaningTan is chiefly a Vietnamese given name from 'tan', 'new, fresh', carried in Vietnamese with a tone the English spelling drops; the same short form serves as a Chinese and Hmong surname as well. It entered American records mainly through Southeast-Asian immigrant families after 1975, and should not be confused with the English word for a color or a suntan.

U.S. rank (2019)#9637 ↗ Rising

2019 U.S. births8 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1985

Total births (all-time)≈ 586

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

Tan is a Vietnamese given name meaning 'new', from 'tan', and also a Chinese and Hmong surname. It reached American data through the immigration that followed 1975.

It appears from about 1976 and peaks faintly near 1985, with use trailing into the twenty-tens. It has stayed rare, largely borne by first-generation Southeast-Asian Americans.

Did you know? Though it looks like the English word for a color or a suntan, Tan is here a Vietnamese name meaning 'new' - a reminder that identical spellings can hide entirely different roots.

Overall data confidence 50%

References - Tan — Vietnamese 'tan' new; also Chinese/Hmong surname; post-1975

Variations

TahnTanhThanTam

Nicknames

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If you like Tan…

Tam— a short Vietnamese name close in sound

Tuan— a common Vietnamese boy's name of the era

Minh— a one-syllable Vietnamese name meaning 'bright'

Quan— a Vietnamese boy's name from the same community

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Tan mean?

Tan is a Vietnamese name meaning 'new'; it is also a Chinese and Hmong surname.

How do you pronounce Tan?

It's said TAHN /ˈtɑn/ - one syllable, with a fuller 'ah' than the English word.

Is Tan a boy or girl name?

Here Tan is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Tan?

Tan has always been rare in the United States, appearing chiefly among Southeast-Asian immigrant families.