UK girl's name
Lan
An unisex name of Chinese origin meaning "orchid" or "delicate flower.".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2012. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Lan is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Lan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2012 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5876, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 3 births.
This profile covers 9 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 1996 to 2012. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 9 living people in the UK are called Lan. 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 2013 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Lan ranked #5876 for girls in England and Wales in 2012, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 3 girls were registered as Lan.
- • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Lan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5876
2012
Births in 2012
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
3 births
Estimated living
9
2026
Meaning
What does Lan mean?
The name Lan has its origins in the Vietnamese language. It is a unisex name that can be bestowed upon both boys and girls. The name is derived from the Vietnamese word "lan," which translates to "orchid" in English. The orchid flower holds significant cultural importance in Vietnam and is often associated with beauty, grace, and refinement.
In ancient Vietnamese folklore and literature, the name Lan is frequently mentioned in connection with tales and poems that celebrate the delicate beauty of the orchid flower. Some scholars believe that the name may have been inspired by the revered Vietnamese Princess Huyen Tran, who lived during the 13th century and was renowned for her intellect and elegance.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lan can be found in the annals of the Ly Dynasty, which ruled Vietnam from 1009 to 1225 CE. During this period, a noblewoman named Lan Anh Nguyen was celebrated for her contributions to the development of the intricate Vietnamese script known as "chu Nom."
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Lan. Lan Xang (1520-1624) was a revered Buddhist monk who played a pivotal role in the spiritual and cultural life of the Lao people. Lan Samantha Chang (born 1965) is an American novelist and professor of English, best known for her critically acclaimed work "Inheritance."
Lan Tu (1835-1905) was a prominent Vietnamese scholar and poet who made significant contributions to the preservation of traditional Vietnamese literature. Lan Cao (born 1961) is a Vietnamese-American author and professor of law, whose works explore themes of identity, immigration, and cultural assimilation.
Lan Anh Le (born 1974) is a highly regarded Vietnamese-American journalist and author, known for her insightful reporting on issues related to human rights and social justice. These are just a few examples of the many individuals who have carried the name Lan throughout history, each leaving their unique mark on the world in their respective fields.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Lan over time
The chart below shows babies named Lan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2012. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Lan, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2012, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Lan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Lan 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 | #5876 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #5201 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | #3795 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Lan
- Lily 72,956
- Lucy 70,663
- Lauren 50,664
- Leah 33,185
- Lola 24,525
- Layla 24,520
- Laura 23,471
- Lilly 21,714
- Lydia 18,353
- Libby 14,515
- Lara 13,415
- Lacey 13,406
FAQ
Lan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Lan in the UK right now?
In 2012, Lan was ranked #5876 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Lan most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 3 babies registered as Lan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Lan?
An unisex name of Chinese origin meaning "orchid" or "delicate flower.".
How many people are called Lan in the UK?
A total of 9 babies have been registered as Lan 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.