UK boy's name
San
A name with origins in Sanskrit, meaning "praise" or "worthy".
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.
San is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for San popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1951, with 12 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 12 births.
This profile covers 132 England and Wales registrations across 20 recorded years from 2003 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.
San is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 131 living people in the UK are called San. 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
- • San ranked #1951 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 12 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2024, when 12 boys were registered as San.
- • About 131 living people in the UK are estimated to have San as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1951
2024
Births in 2024
12
Latest year
Peak year
2024
12 births
Estimated living
131
2026
Meaning
What does San mean?
The name San has its origins in several ancient languages and cultures. It is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Shana', which means 'giving' or 'bestowing'. The name is also found in the ancient Hebrew language, where it is believed to be a variant of the name 'Shani', which translates to 'sun' or 'sun-god'.
In Hindu mythology, San is one of the names of the Sun God, Surya. The name is mentioned in several Sanskrit texts, including the Vedas and the Puranas. San is also a popular name in Buddhism, where it is often associated with the concept of 'peace' and 'tranquility'.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name San can be found in the ancient Chinese text, the Shiji, which dates back to the 2nd century BC. The text mentions a person named San Qing, who was a famous military strategist during the Warring States period.
Throughout history, there have been several notable people with the name San. One of the most famous was San Gaku, a Japanese mathematician and astronomer who lived in the 17th century. He is credited with introducing the concept of the 'Sangaku' or 'mathematical tablets' to Japan.
Another notable person with the name San was San Francisco de Asis, a Catholic friar and preacher who lived in Spain during the 16th century. He is remembered for his work in establishing monasteries and promoting the Franciscan order.
In the 20th century, San Dai, a Chinese writer and poet, gained recognition for his works that explored themes of love, nature, and spirituality. He was born in 1909 and passed away in 1988.
San Pablo, a Filipino revolutionary and general, played a significant role in the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonial rule in the late 19th century. He was born in 1863 and died in 1903.
San Somhang, a Laotian politician and diplomat, served as the President of Laos from 1992 to 1998. He was born in 1924 and passed away in 2015.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
San over time
The chart below shows babies named San registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2003 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 San, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 12 births in 2024, compared with 12 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
San by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether San 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 | #2846 | 38 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2821 | 70 | 10 |
| 2000s | #3107 | 24 | 5 |
Related
Names similar to San
- Samuel 108,505
- Sebastian 33,008
- Sam 20,889
- Stanley 16,354
- Sonny 15,028
- Sean 15,006
- Scott 12,587
- Seth 9,841
- Syed 9,050
- Stephen 8,884
- Spencer 8,333
- Steven 6,970
FAQ
San: questions and answers
How popular is the name San in the UK right now?
In 2024, San was ranked #1951 for boys in England and Wales, with 12 births registered.
When was San most popular?
The peak year on record was 2024, with 12 babies registered as San in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of San?
A name with origins in Sanskrit, meaning "praise" or "worthy".
How many people are called San in the UK?
A total of 132 babies have been registered as San across the 20 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.