UK boy's name
Chan
A diminutive form of the Korean surname Chan and Chinese surname Chen.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2013. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Chan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Chan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2013 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4685, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 8 births.
This profile covers 14 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 1996 to 2013. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 38% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 14 living people in the UK are called Chan. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2014 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Chan ranked #4685 for boys in England and Wales in 2013, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 8 boys were registered as Chan.
- • About 14 living people in the UK are estimated to have Chan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4685
2013
Births in 2013
3
Latest year
Peak year
1997
8 births
Estimated living
14
2026
Meaning
What does Chan mean?
The name Chan has its origins in various Asian cultures and languages, tracing back centuries. In Chinese, the name is written as 陳 (Chén) and is derived from an ancient family name that dates back to the Spring and Autumn period (771-476 BC). The name is believed to have originated from the state of Chen, a small feudal state during the Zhou Dynasty.
Chan is also a common name in Korea, where it is transcribed as 찬 (Chan). In Korean, the name is thought to have been derived from the Chinese name and was likely introduced during periods of cultural exchange between the two countries.
In India, Chan is a variation of the Sanskrit name Chandan, which means "sandalwood" or "the moon." This name has been in use since ancient times and can be found in Hindu scriptures and texts.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Chan was Chan Tzu-ch'ien (1899-1983), a prominent Chinese philosopher and scholar. He is known for his work on Neo-Confucianism and his contributions to the development of modern Chinese thought.
Another notable figure is Chan Buddhism, a branch of Mahayana Buddhism that emerged in China around the 6th century AD. The term "Chan" is derived from the Sanskrit word "dhyana," which means meditation or contemplation.
In the realm of literature, Chan Jo-shui (1876-1926) was a renowned Taiwanese writer and poet. He is considered one of the pioneers of modern Taiwanese literature and played a significant role in the literary movement during the Japanese colonial period.
Chan Itch Khachoo (1876-1957) was an Indian freedom fighter and politician from Punjab. He actively participated in the Indian independence movement and served as a member of the Constituent Assembly of India, which drafted the country's constitution.
Chan Siu Kee (1904-1977) was a Hong Kong entrepreneur and philanthropist. He founded the Hong Kong-based company Crocodile Garments, which became a major clothing manufacturer and retailer in Asia.
These examples illustrate the diverse cultural and historical contexts in which the name Chan has been used, spanning various regions, languages, and eras.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Chan over time
The chart below shows babies named Chan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2013. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Chan, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2013, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Chan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Chan was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4685 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | #2159 | 11 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Chan
- Charlie 104,761
- Callum 65,796
- Connor 53,072
- Cameron 40,394
- Charles 33,091
- Christopher 26,849
- Caleb 15,553
- Corey 12,622
- Carter 11,505
- Cody 11,075
- Conor 10,298
- Christian 9,695
FAQ
Chan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Chan in the UK right now?
In 2013, Chan was ranked #4685 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Chan most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 8 babies registered as Chan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Chan?
A diminutive form of the Korean surname Chan and Chinese surname Chen.
How many people are called Chan in the UK?
A total of 14 babies have been registered as Chan across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.