Chan is an ancient Chinese surname and given name, which means "honorable" or "serene". It's particularly popular among Cantonese-speaking communities worldwide, notably in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and overseas Chinatowns. The name Chan has been historically associated with prestigious families and figures in Chinese history, contributing to its enduring appeal.
The name Chan experienced significant popularity fluctuations over the years, with notable peaks and valleys. In the early decades (1919-1935), there were fewer than 10 births per year on average. However, from the mid-1940s onwards, the number of births began to rise consistently, reaching its peak in 1965 with an impressive 20 births that year. This trend continued until the late 1970s and early 1980s when Chan became one of the most popular names, with over 20 births annually from 1984 to 1987 inclusive.
After 1987, popularity started to wane once more, although there were still periods of high numbers such as in 1990-1994 and again in the early 2000s. More recently, from 2006 onwards, the name Chan has seen a consistent decline in popularity, with fewer than 10 births per year on average.
In total, there were 1022 births registered under the name Chan between 1919 and 2022 inclusive.