NameCensus.

UK name, mostly girls

Xuan

A name with Chinese origin, typically meaning "long-lasting" or "eternal".

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.

Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 6 boys.

Xuan is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Xuan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2016 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4763, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 4 births.

This profile covers 14 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2005 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 14 living people in the UK are called Xuan. 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

  • Xuan ranked #4763 for girls in England and Wales in 2016, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2010, when 4 girls were registered as Xuan.
  • Xuan is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 14 living people in the UK are estimated to have Xuan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 70.0% of Xuan registrations are for girls.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4763

2016

Births in 2016

4

Latest year

Peak year

2010

4 births

Estimated living

14

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Xuan

In England and Wales birth records, Xuan has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 30.0% of registrations are for boys and 70.0% 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.

30% boys
70% girls
Boys6 (30.0%)Girls14 (70.0%)

Xuan registered for boys

  • Ranked #4,805 in 2012
  • 3 boys registered in 2012
  • Peak: 2011 (3 births)

Xuan registered for girls

  • Ranked #4,763 in 2016
  • 4 girls registered in 2016
  • Peak: 2010 (4 births)

Meaning

What does Xuan mean?

The name Xuan has its origins in Chinese culture, dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Chinese character "宣," which means "to proclaim" or "to spread." This character is composed of two radicals: the radical for "speech" and the radical for "window," symbolizing the idea of "spreading words through a window."

In ancient Chinese literature and historical records, the name Xuan appears in various contexts. One of the earliest references can be found in the Shijing, also known as the Book of Songs, which is a collection of ancient Chinese poetry dating back to the early Zhou Dynasty (around 1000–600 BC). The name Xuan appears in several poems, often associated with individuals of high social status or noble character.

One notable figure in Chinese history who bore the name Xuan was Emperor Xuan of Han, who ruled the Han Dynasty from 73 BC to 49 BC. His reign was marked by political stability and economic prosperity, and he is remembered for his efforts in promoting Confucian values and encouraging education.

Another famous individual with the name Xuan was the renowned Daoist philosopher Zhuang Zhou, also known as Zhuangzi or Chuang Tzu, who lived during the 4th century BC. His work, the Zhuangzi, is considered a seminal text in Daoist philosophy and continues to influence Chinese thought and literature.

In Japanese culture, the name Xuan is often romanized as "Shuan" or "Shuen." One notable bearer of this name was Shuen Miyazaki, a renowned Japanese painter and printmaker who lived from 1913 to 1998. His works, which often depicted traditional Japanese scenes and landscapes, are highly regarded for their technical mastery and artistic sensitivity.

Moving to Vietnamese culture, the name Xuan is sometimes transliterated as "Huynh" or "Huỳnh." One famous Vietnamese figure with this name was Huynh Tan Phat, a prolific writer and journalist who lived from 1913 to 1989. He is best known for his contributions to Vietnamese literature and his efforts in promoting cultural awareness during the turbulent times of the 20th century.

Throughout history, the name Xuan has been associated with individuals of diverse backgrounds and achievements, reflecting its rich cultural heritage and enduring significance across various societies.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Xuan over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Xuan in England and Wales, from 2005 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 Xuan, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2016, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
02356200520102016

Decades

Xuan by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Xuan 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 #5109 11 3
2000s #4798 3 1

Related

Names similar to Xuan

FAQ

Xuan: questions and answers

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

In 2016, Xuan was ranked #4763 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Xuan most popular?

The peak year on record was 2010, with 4 babies registered as Xuan in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Xuan?

A name with Chinese origin, typically meaning "long-lasting" or "eternal".

How many people are called Xuan in the UK?

A total of 14 babies have been registered as Xuan across the 4 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.