Given name & surname · also Chinese
Zan
“one who offers support and praise”·“a well-fed man”
Zan is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “one who offers support and praise” (Chinese) and “a well-fed man” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “one who offers support and praise” (Chinese) and “a well-fed man” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with Chinese and Hebrew naming traditions.
How it developed
In English usage, Zan is a diminutive of Suzanne. In English usage, Zan is a diminutive of Susanne.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1916. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Zan through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 773
- 659 boys · 114 girls
- Most popular year
- 1955
- 20 babies
- 2025
- 8
- #9,696 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +100%
- Rising fast
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 8 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 9,696 among boys’ names. The recent annual counts are too incomplete to establish a ten-year comparison. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,061 as a first name in 2020; 527 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.
Zan’s family of names
In English usage, Zan is a diminutive of Susan. In Franco-Provençal usage, Zan has a related form in Jian. In English usage, Zan is a diminutive of Suzanne.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Around the world
Zan has relatives in 3 languages. Lines run from its Hebrew roots to each of them.
6 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Zan
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Zan, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Dan
“he judged”
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Ken
“born of fire” · “handsome, fair one”
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Buz
“contempt”
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Tal
“covered with the morning's dew”
85% boys · 15% girls
Ike
“full of laughter” · “a man from France; one who is free”
>99% boys
Dedan
“leading gently”
>99% boys