Yan is a unique and captivating female given name of Chinese origin, meaning 'orchid' or 'jade'. It is often associated with elegance, grace, and beauty, attributes that can be symbolized by these precious materials in Chinese culture. Yan is composed of two characters: ' berg' (艳), which signifies beauty and charm, and 'man' (颜), traditionally referring to the color jade or orchid. In China, Yan has been used for centuries as a feminine given name, with notable figures bearing this name, such as Yan Xu (842-916 AD), a renowned poet and stateswoman during the Five Dynasties period. Internationally, Yan gained popularity in the late 20th century due to its unique sound and meaning, often being preferred by parents seeking distinctive yet culturally rich names for their daughters.
The name Yan experienced a gradual increase in popularity from the late 70s to mid-90s, peaking with 35 births in 2017. However, it has since seen a decline, with only 44 births recorded in 2023. Over the course of 52 years, there have been a total of 882 births named Yan.