NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Luan

A masculine name of Portuguese origin meaning "playful" or "rambunctious".

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.

Luan is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Luan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #737, with 47 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 64 births.

This profile covers 491 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 73% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 574 living people in the UK are called Luan. 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

  • Luan ranked #737 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 47 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2023, when 64 boys were registered as Luan.
  • Luan ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #256 in 2024.
  • About 574 living people in the UK are estimated to have Luan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 99.2% of Luan registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#737

2024

Births in 2024

47

Latest year

Peak year

2023

64 births

Estimated living

574

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Luan

In England and Wales birth records, Luan has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 99.2% of registrations are for boys and 0.8% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

99% boys
Boys491 (99.2%)Girls4 (0.8%)

Luan registered for boys

  • Ranked #737 in 2024
  • 47 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2023 (64 births)

Luan registered for girls

  • Ranked #3,142 in 1998
  • 4 girls registered in 1998
  • Peak: 1998 (4 births)

Meaning

What does Luan mean?

The given name Luan has its origins in the Chinese language, tracing back to ancient times. It is derived from the Chinese word "luan," which means "willow." The willow tree holds significant symbolism in Chinese culture, representing resilience, grace, and endurance.

During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), the name Luan gained popularity among the noble and scholarly classes. It was often bestowed upon male children, with the hope that they would embody the qualities associated with the willow tree – flexibility and strength in the face of adversity.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Luan can be found in the classical Chinese text "The Book of Songs," which dates back to the 6th century BC. This ancient collection of poems and songs includes mentions of individuals bearing the name Luan, suggesting its use in ancient Chinese society.

Throughout Chinese history, several notable figures have carried the name Luan. In the 3rd century AD, Luan Ba was a renowned military strategist and advisor to the warlord Cao Cao during the Three Kingdoms period. His tactical brilliance played a crucial role in shaping the course of history.

During the Tang Dynasty, Luan Xiu (622-683 AD) was a celebrated scholar and calligrapher. His mastery of the art form earned him widespread recognition, and his works are still studied and admired to this day.

In the field of literature, Luan Dian (1279-1368 AD) was a prominent poet and essayist of the Yuan Dynasty. His poetic compositions, infused with deep philosophical musings, have stood the test of time and continue to inspire generations of writers.

Moving forward in history, Luan Guapeng (1900-1965) was a notable Chinese artist and educator. His vibrant paintings, capturing the essence of traditional Chinese culture, have been exhibited in galleries around the world.

Another celebrated figure bearing the name Luan is Luan Liming (1913-2000), a renowned Chinese archaeologist. His groundbreaking discoveries and contributions to the study of ancient Chinese civilizations have shed light on the rich tapestry of the nation's past.

These are just a few examples of the illustrious individuals who have carried the name Luan throughout Chinese history, each leaving an indelible mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich cultural heritage of the nation.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Luan over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Luan in England and Wales, 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 Luan, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 47 births in 2024, compared with 64 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
016324864199620102024

Decades

Luan by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Luan 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 #754 236 5
2010s #1634 175 10
2000s #2345 70 10
1990s #2742 10 3

Geography

Where Luan is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Luan. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Luan ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #256 in 2024.

Northern Ireland
7
Scotland
3

Across the UK

Luan in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#727 in 2024

3 years of NRS records, 11 total registered

Northern Ireland (NISRA)

#256 in 2024

9 years of NISRA records, 75 total registered

Related

Names similar to Luan

FAQ

Luan: questions and answers

How popular is the name Luan in the UK right now?

In 2024, Luan was ranked #737 for boys in England and Wales, with 47 births registered.

When was Luan most popular?

The peak year on record was 2023, with 64 babies registered as Luan in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Luan?

A masculine name of Portuguese origin meaning "playful" or "rambunctious".

How many people are called Luan in the UK?

A total of 491 babies have been registered as Luan across the 28 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 11 more in Scotland and 75 in Northern Ireland.

Where is Luan most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Luan ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #256 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

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.