Ulan is of Turkic origin, meaning 'storm' or 'whirlwind'. It is traditionally used as a boy's name in various Turkic-speaking countries such as Turkey, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. The name Ulan is composed of two elements: 'ul-' which means 'heart' or 'spirit', and '-an' which serves as an adjective suffix. Thus, the name can be interpreted as 'full of spirit' or 'powerful in spirit'. In some sources, it is also linked to the Mongolian word 'ulan' meaning 'red'. Historically, Ulan was a title used for high-ranking military officers in Mongolia and Manchu China.
In 1918, there were six babies named Ulan born. This means that all of the babies given this name over the entire period were born within a single year.