UK boy's name
Kavan
Of Persian origin, meaning victorious or strong.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Kavan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kavan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2671, with 8 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 28 births.
This profile covers 389 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 29% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 386 living people in the UK are called Kavan. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Kavan ranked #2671 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 8 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 28 boys were registered as Kavan.
- • About 386 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kavan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2671
2024
Births in 2024
8
Latest year
Peak year
1998
28 births
Estimated living
386
2026
Meaning
What does Kavan mean?
The name Kavan is believed to have originated from the Persian language. It is derived from the Old Persian word "kavaan," which means "noble" or "honorable." The name has its roots in ancient Persia, which is now modern-day Iran, and is thought to have been used as early as the 6th century BC during the Achaemenid Empire.
In Persian culture, names often carry significant meaning and are chosen with care. The name Kavan reflects the high regard and respect that was given to individuals who possessed noble qualities and upheld honorable values. It was a name that conveyed a sense of pride and dignity.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Kavan can be found in the ancient Persian epic poem, the Shahnameh, written by the renowned poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th century AD. The epic recounts the history and legends of ancient Persia, and the name Kavan appears as a character in some of the stories.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Kavan. One of the earliest known was Kavan ibn Masud al-Ghaznavi, a Persian mathematician and astronomer who lived in the 11th century AD. He made significant contributions to the fields of mathematics and astronomy during the Islamic Golden Age.
Another famous Kavan was Kavan Mirza, a Persian prince and military commander who lived in the 16th century during the Safavid dynasty. He played a crucial role in the expansion and consolidation of the Safavid Empire and was known for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.
In more recent times, Kavan Novak was a Czech playwright and screenwriter who lived from 1907 to 1983. He is best known for his satirical works that critiqued the political and social climate of his era.
Kavan Moghadam is a contemporary Iranian-American entrepreneur and businessman who founded the successful technology company Dropbox. He was born in 1984 and has been recognized for his innovative contributions to the tech industry.
Lastly, Kavan Smith is a Canadian actor born in 1970. He has appeared in numerous television shows and movies, including recurring roles in popular series like "Supernatural" and "When Calls the Heart."
While the name Kavan may have origins in ancient Persia, it has transcended cultural boundaries and has been adopted by individuals across various regions and ethnicities, each carrying the essence of nobility and honor that the name represents.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kavan over time
The chart below shows babies named Kavan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Kavan, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 8 births in 2024, compared with 28 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kavan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kavan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #2603 | 40 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2463 | 90 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1208 | 175 | 10 |
| 1990s | #828 | 84 | 4 |
Notable bearers
Famous people named Kavan
-
Kavan Cotter
association football player
association football player (born 1999)
1999-
Related
Names similar to Kavan
- Kieran 30,429
- Kyle 28,463
- Kai 24,432
- Kian 17,666
- Kayden 8,305
- Kevin 7,927
- Kane 7,149
- Kaiden 5,762
- Kieron 4,547
- Kacper 4,366
- Kye 4,012
- Kit 3,529
FAQ
Kavan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kavan in the UK right now?
In 2024, Kavan was ranked #2671 for boys in England and Wales, with 8 births registered.
When was Kavan most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 28 babies registered as Kavan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kavan?
Of Persian origin, meaning victorious or strong.
How many people are called Kavan in the UK?
A total of 389 babies have been registered as Kavan across the 29 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.