UK name, mostly boys
Shan
An English masculine name derived from the Persian word for "prosperous".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 91 girls.
Shan is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Shan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4608, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 8 births.
This profile covers 116 England and Wales registrations across 21 recorded years from 1996 to 2020. The figures come from ONS England and Wales 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 38% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 118 living people in the UK are called Shan. 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 2021 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Shan ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2003, when 8 boys were registered as Shan.
- • Shan ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #414 in 2022.
- • Shan is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 118 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 56.0% of Shan registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4608
2020
Births in 2020
3
Latest year
Peak year
2003
8 births
Estimated living
118
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Shan
In England and Wales birth records, Shan has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 56.0% of registrations are for boys and 44.0% 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.
Shan registered for boys
- Ranked #4,608 in 2020
- 3 boys registered in 2020
- Peak: 2003 (8 births)
Shan registered for girls
- Ranked #4,645 in 2022
- 4 girls registered in 2022
- Peak: 2009 (6 births)
Meaning
What does Shan mean?
The name Shan has its origins in various cultures and languages across the world. It is derived from the Persian word "Shah", which means "king" or "sovereign". This name has been used in the Middle East and Central Asia for centuries.
In ancient Hindu texts and scriptures, the name Shan is also found, with a different meaning. It is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "Shanti", which means "peace" or "tranquility". This name was popular among Hindus and Buddhists in ancient India.
The earliest recorded examples of the name Shan can be traced back to ancient Persia, where it was used as a title for kings and rulers. One of the most notable historical figures with this name was Shan Jahan, the fifth Mughal emperor of India, who ruled from 1628 to 1658. He was known for his architectural achievements, including the construction of the Taj Mahal.
Another famous historical figure with the name Shan was Shan Dun, a Chinese philosopher and writer who lived during the 4th century BC. He is best known for his work on the ancient Chinese text, the "Tao Te Ching".
In the realm of literature, Shan is also the name of a character in the famous Chinese novel "Journey to the West", written during the 16th century. The character, known as Shan Wukong or the Monkey King, is a central figure in the story and is celebrated for his bravery and mischievous nature.
Moving to more recent times, Shan was also the name of Shan Tung, a Chinese-American actor who appeared in several Hollywood films during the 1920s and 1930s. He was one of the first Chinese actors to achieve success in the American film industry.
Another notable figure with the name Shan was Shan Hackett, an Australian rules footballer who played for the Essendon Bombers in the early 20th century. He was born in 1883 and played a significant role in the success of the team during his career.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Shan over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Shan in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Shan, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shan 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 | #4608 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #3349 | 38 | 7 |
| 2000s | #2477 | 55 | 9 |
| 1990s | #2172 | 20 | 4 |
Geography
Where Shan is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Shan. 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.
Shan ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #414 in 2022.
Across the UK
Shan in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#414 in 2022
1 years of NISRA records, 3 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Shan
-
Shan Jones
association football player
1990-
-
Shan George
actor; singer; film director; film producer
Nigerian actress
1970-
-
Shan Morgan
diplomat
British diplomat
1955-
-
Shan Oakes
candidate in the 2024 United Kingdom general election
Related
Names similar to Shan
- 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
Shan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shan in the UK right now?
In 2020, Shan was ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Shan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2003, with 8 babies registered as Shan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shan?
An English masculine name derived from the Persian word for "prosperous".
How many people are called Shan in the UK?
A total of 116 babies have been registered as Shan across the 21 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here and 3 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Shan most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Shan ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #414 in 2022. 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.