Xian is a Chinese given name that has been used throughout history in various dynasties. It is of unknown origin and its meaning varies depending on the dynasty in which it was used.
In ancient China, Xian was often used as an imperial title rather than a personal name. The character for Xian (仙) means "immortal" or "divine". During the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BCE), the title of Xian Wang (仙王) was given to the king of Qi, indicating his divine status.
During the Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE), Xian became more commonly used as a personal name. It was often associated with the character for "pure" or "clean" (洁). Some notable historical figures with the name Xian include Xian Lu (仙 鲈), a general during the Three Kingdoms period, and Xian Wei (仙 韦), a poet of the Tang Dynasty.
In modern times, Xian is still used as a given name in China. Its meaning can vary depending on the characters used to write it. For example, the combination of 先 (meaning "before" or "preceding") and 洁 (meaning "pure" or "clean") results in the name Xiān Jí (先洁), which has a different meaning than Xian itself.
Overall, Xian is an ancient Chinese given name with a rich history and varied meanings. Its use as an imperial title during the Zhou Dynasty reflects its divine connotations, while its later use as a personal name suggests a more earthly interpretation of its meaning. Today, it continues to be used as a given name in China, with its meaning determined by the characters used to write it.
Based on the statistics provided, we can observe a fluctuation in the number of babies named Xian born annually in the United States over the past few decades.
The data shows that the name Xian first appeared in 1997 with only 6 births recorded. The following year saw an increase to 12 births. This trend continued, with the numbers oscillating between lows and highs:
* In 1998, there were 12 births.
* In 1999, the number decreased to 8 births.
* By the year 2000, it had climbed back up to 16 births.
However, from 2001 onwards, we see a general decline in popularity until 2007:
* There were 5 births in 2002.
* The numbers increased slightly to 10 births in 2003 and 7 births in 2004.
* Then it jumped up to 11 births in 2006 before dropping down again to 13 births in 2007.
Starting from 2008, the trend seems to have stabilized at a slightly higher level:
* There were 8 births in 2008.
* It increased to 11 births in 2009 and then 17 births in 2010.
* This stability continued through 2014 with numbers ranging from 10 to 18 births per year.
In recent years, we see a more significant increase:
* In 2015, there were 14 births.
* By 2016, it had climbed up again to 19 births.
* This growth continued through 2017 with 20 births recorded.
* The trend has continued upward in the most recent years:
+ There were 21 births in 2018.
+ In 2019, there were 25 births.
+ And in 2020 and 2021 combined, there have been 37 births.
Overall, based on these statistics, we can conclude that the name Xian has seen a steady increase in popularity over time. However, it remains relatively uncommon compared to more popular names in the United States.