Given name

Mulan

“resembling a magnolia blossom”

Mulan is used as a given name. One Chinese interpretation is “resembling a magnolia blossom.”

Meaning & origin

What it means

One Chinese interpretation is “resembling a magnolia blossom.”

Where it comes from

An origin associated with this spelling is Chinese.

The story

Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1998. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.

From dated birth records

Mulan through the years

Babies since 1880
748
5 boys · 743 girls
Most popular year
2025
72 babies
2025
72
#2,475 for girls
2021–25 vs 2016–20
+30%
Rising
020406020002025Highest share 202545
Mulan in U.S. Social Security birth records, 1998–2025, per million girls born. Years with fewer than five births for a sex are not published and appear as zero. Use the arrow keys to step through years.

Where it’s given

Most at home inVirginia, Georgia, Illinois
FewerMore, relative to births Not published
2025 births by state of birth. Tiles are equal-sized so small states stay visible. Highest rates: Virginia (6), Georgia (8), Illinois (6), North Carolina (5), Pennsylvania (5).

By the numbers

In 2025, this name appeared in 72 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,475 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 30.1% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, Georgia had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (8). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 474 as a first name in 2020.

From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.

Mulan’s family of names

Mulan has a related form in Mulana. Mulan has a related form in Mulane. Mulan has a related form in Mulania.

Walk Mulan’s family in the name graph

MulanMulannaMulaneMulaniaMulanaMulanneMulann

The ring: nicknames and forms.

Hover or tab through the constellation to see how each name is related. Bigger dots are names more people in the U.S. share.

Nicknames & forms 6

Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.

People named Mulan

Characters named Mulan: Mulan (Disney princess).

Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.

Similar names

If you love Mulan, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.

Chinese · Modern

Yue

“of the moonlight” · “born beneath the moon”

17Very rareRising fast

5% boys · 95% girls

Chinese · Modern

Jia

Jia is a surname from Mandarin.

41UncommonRising

>99% girls

Modern

Kaylani

“of the sky and sea”

71CommonRising fast

>99% girls

American · Modern

Aspen

“from the aspen tree”

69FamiliarRising

13% boys · 87% girls

Hawaiian · Modern

Alani

“from the orange tree”

72CommonRising fast

1% boys · 99% girls

Hebrew · Modern

Ayla

“from the oak tree”

78CommonRising fast

>99% girls

Hawaiian · Modern

Kailani

“of the sky and sea”

68FamiliarRising fast

>99% girls

Modern

Brynlee

“from the burnt meadow”

68FamiliarSteady

>99% girls

Sibling ideas

Names that share Mulan’s feel without repeating its first letter or rhyming with it.

A brother for Mulan

A sister for Mulan