Given name & surname
Achan
“but perhaps serpent”
Achan is used as a given name and a surname.
Original Hebrewעכן
Meaning & origin
What it means
As a biblical name, Achan is thought to mean “but perhaps serpent.”
From biblical name research
Where it comes from
Achan is a biblical name, probably from Hebrew.
From biblical name research
How it developed
Possibly from the Hebrew noun 'achana (עכנא), “serpent.”
From biblical name research
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 2005. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
In the Bible
In the Bible, the name Achan appears in Joshua 7:1, Joshua 22:20, 1 Chronicles 2:7.
- Joshua 7:1
- Joshua 22:20
- 1 Chronicles 2:7
From biblical name research
Achan through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 5
- 0 boys · 5 girls
- Most popular year
- 2005
- 5 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 5 in 2005. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 150 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Achan’s family of names
See also 2
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
Similar names
If you love Achan, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Abihail
“the father is might” · “father of strength”
>99% girls
Ammi
“my people”
>99% girls
Aridai
“freely” · “my freedom”
>99% girls
Vaniah
“but perhaps weak or Yah is praise”
>99% girls
Zabdi
“my gift” · “gift of Yah”
>99% girls
Jaazaniah
“Yah harkens”
20% boys · 80% girls
Eleasah
“God has made”
>99% girls
Bariah
“fugitive”
>99% girls