UK boy's name
Quan
An American name of Chinese origin meaning "bright" or "mighty".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2016. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Quan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Quan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2016 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4810, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 3 births.
This profile covers 9 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2007 to 2016. 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 Quan. 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 2017 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Quan ranked #4810 for boys in England and Wales in 2016, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 3 boys were registered as Quan.
- • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Quan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4810
2016
Births in 2016
3
Latest year
Peak year
2007
3 births
Estimated living
9
2026
Meaning
What does Quan mean?
The name Quan has its origins in the Chinese language, where it is a common given name for both males and females. The name is derived from the Chinese character "全" which means "whole" or "complete". It is believed to have been in use as a given name for over a thousand years, with records of the name appearing in ancient Chinese texts and historical records.
One of the earliest known references to the name Quan can be found in the Analects of Confucius, a collection of sayings and teachings attributed to the Chinese philosopher Confucius (551-479 BC). In this text, there is a mention of a person named Quan Zhong, who was a disciple of Confucius.
In Chinese history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Quan. One of the most famous was Quan Deyu (1759-1844), a Chinese scholar and philosopher who was known for his work on neo-Confucianism. Another notable figure was Quan Zuwang (1705-1755), a Chinese painter and calligrapher who was renowned for his landscape paintings and calligraphic works.
Outside of China, the name Quan has also been used in other cultures and regions. In Vietnam, for example, the name Quan is a variant of the more common name Quang, which also has its roots in Chinese. One notable Vietnamese figure who bore the name Quan was Quan Thuan (1948-2021), a Vietnamese-American writer and poet who was known for his works exploring themes of identity and exile.
In Japan, the name Quan is sometimes used as a variant of the Japanese name Kuan or Kan, which share similar meanings and origins with the Chinese name. One famous Japanese individual with the name Quan was Quan Zhi (1692-1758), a Confucian scholar and philosopher who was influential in the spread of neo-Confucianism in Japan.
Another notable bearer of the name Quan was Quan Fu (1837-1888), a Chinese diplomat and statesman who played a significant role in the late Qing dynasty. He served as the Qing Empire's ambassador to various countries, including Russia and the United States, and was known for his efforts to modernize China's diplomatic relations with foreign nations.
These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have borne the name Quan. While the name has its origins in Chinese culture, its use has transcended borders and has been adopted by various other cultures and regions over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Quan over time
The chart below shows babies named Quan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2007 to 2016. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Quan, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2016, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Quan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Quan 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 | #4721 | 6 | 2 |
| 2000s | #4333 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Quan
- Quinn 2,941
- Qasim 1,585
- Quentin 481
- Quinton 375
- Quincy 334
- Qais 331
- Quinlan 247
- Qaasim 119
- Quin 105
- Quade 94
- Quintin 88
- Quinten 81
FAQ
Quan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Quan in the UK right now?
In 2016, Quan was ranked #4810 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Quan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 3 babies registered as Quan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Quan?
An American name of Chinese origin meaning "bright" or "mighty".
How many people are called Quan in the UK?
A total of 9 babies have been registered as Quan 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.