Given name · also African
Nishan
“one who wins awards”·“a sigri or symbol”
Nishan is used as a given name. Interpretations include “one who wins awards” (African) and “a sigri or symbol” (Armenian). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “one who wins awards” (African) and “a sigri or symbol” (Armenian). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with African and Armenian naming traditions.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1924. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Nishan through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 371
- 371 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2010
- 20 babies
- 2025
- 6
- #11,614 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −38%
- Cooling
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 6 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 11,614 among boys’ names. The recent annual counts are too incomplete to establish a ten-year comparison. Its largest published annual count for boys was 20 in 2010. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 791 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.
Nishan’s family of names
Nishan has a related form in Nishana. Nishan has a related form in Nishann. Nishan has a related form in Nishanna.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Nishan
- Nishan VelupillayAustralian soccer player (born 2001)
- Nishan YaubyanArmenian descent Turkish architect, teacher1928–2022
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Nishan, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Rehan
“resembling a flower”
95% boys · 5% girls
Issay
“one who is hairy”
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Negus
“of the royalty; a king; an emperor”
>99% boys
Balian
Balian is a surname from Armenian.
>99% boys
Jayvyn
“having a light spirit”
>99% boys
Sevan
Sevan is a masculine given name from Armenian. It is used in Turkish.
80% boys · 20% girls
Adwin
“a great thinker; one who is creative”
>99% boys