UK boy's name
Tuan
A Vietnamese masculine name meaning "lord" or "master".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2011. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Tuan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Tuan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2011 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3300, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 6 births.
This profile covers 21 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2000 to 2011. 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 83% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 21 living people in the UK are called Tuan. 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 2012 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Tuan ranked #3300 for boys in England and Wales in 2011, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 6 boys were registered as Tuan.
- • About 21 living people in the UK are estimated to have Tuan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3300
2011
Births in 2011
5
Latest year
Peak year
2005
6 births
Estimated living
21
2026
Meaning
What does Tuan mean?
The name Tuan is believed to have originated from the Vietnamese language, where it is a common given name for males. In Vietnamese, the word "tuan" means "week" or "period of seven days." The name likely emerged during the medieval period in Vietnam, although its precise origins are uncertain.
One theory suggests that the name Tuan may have derived from an ancient Vietnamese word meaning "to obey" or "to follow," reflecting the cultural value placed on obedience and adherence to societal norms. However, this connection is not definitively established.
Historical records indicate that the name Tuan was used in Vietnam as early as the 11th century. It is mentioned in several ancient Vietnamese literary works and historical chronicles from that time period, although specific individuals with this name are not always clearly identified.
One of the earliest notable figures to bear the name Tuan was Tran Tuan (1230-1291), a prominent Vietnamese Confucian scholar and statesman who served as a high-ranking official during the Tran Dynasty. He was renowned for his literary works and his contributions to the development of Vietnam's civil service system.
Another historically significant individual with the name Tuan was Nguyen Tuan (1386-1459), a Vietnamese military commander and strategist who played a crucial role in defending Vietnam against Chinese invasions during the Ming Dynasty. His military tactics and leadership were instrumental in preserving Vietnam's independence during this period.
In the 19th century, Tuan Nguyen Anh (1802-1883) was a Vietnamese prince and military leader who briefly ruled as the Emperor of Vietnam under the name Minh Mang. He is remembered for his efforts to modernize Vietnam's military and his attempts to resist French colonialism.
A more recent figure bearing the name Tuan was Tuan Nguyen (1910-1986), a Vietnamese diplomat and politician who served as the Prime Minister of South Vietnam from 1965 to 1966 during the Vietnam War.
Additionally, Tuan Leong (1920-2003) was a prominent Malaysian artist and painter known for his vibrant depictions of Southeast Asian landscapes and cultural scenes. He is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of modern Malaysian art.
While the name Tuan has Vietnamese roots, it has also been adopted and used in other Southeast Asian countries with cultural ties to Vietnam, such as Cambodia and Laos. However, its usage remains most prevalent in Vietnam, where it continues to be a popular given name for boys and men.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Tuan over time
The chart below shows babies named Tuan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2000 to 2011. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Tuan, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2011, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Tuan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Tuan 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 | #3300 | 5 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3106 | 16 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Tuan
- Thomas 160,894
- Tyler 42,147
- Theo 40,594
- Toby 32,482
- Theodore 30,211
- Tommy 25,300
- Teddy 20,781
- Taylor 14,354
- Tobias 13,102
- Tom 9,822
- Tristan 9,171
- Timothy 6,200
FAQ
Tuan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Tuan in the UK right now?
In 2011, Tuan was ranked #3300 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Tuan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 6 babies registered as Tuan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Tuan?
A Vietnamese masculine name meaning "lord" or "master".
How many people are called Tuan in the UK?
A total of 21 babies have been registered as Tuan across the 5 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.