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© 2026 Namesake · namesake.baby

Data: Social Security Administration, US births 1880–2024

Van — Meaning, Origin & Popularity | Namesake
All names
Vamir|Vana
English◈ Unisex · 56% boy · 44% girl→ Stable

◈= unisex (gender-neutral)

Van

◈

VAN · 1 syllables

Share Van:
Compare with another name
Boy
#907
→ Stable
Boy
#907
Popularity score: 31
→ Stable
Peak
#868 in 2020
5yr
+3 ranks
Velocity
+3
Birth frequency
7.1 per 100,000 births
Girl
#10181
Popularity score: 7
↓ Fading
Peak
#7216 in 2023
5yr
-2965 ranks
Velocity
-2965
Birth frequency
2.8 per 1,000,000 births

Popularity Over Time

↑ Higher on this chart = more popular · ↓ Lower = less popular

How Popular Is This Name?

Bars show the range of popularity for each group. The dot shows where this name sits. Further right = more popular.

BOY
Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #907 · Falling since 2020

All US boy names
Top 200 boy names
English boy names
Van

Popularity score: 31  ·  SSA Rank: #907

GIRL
Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #10181 · Rising since 2020

All US girl names
Top 200 girl names
English girl names
Van

Popularity score: 7  ·  SSA Rank: #10181

Rare  ·  Distinctive  ·  Familiar  ·  Common  ·  Very Common

Popularity score: 0 = least popular, 100 = most popular. Based on SSA rank.

Namesake Score
72
Higher than 72% of names
Combines uniqueness, trend, meaning, feasibility, and search interest.
Trend
→ Stable
+3 ranks
Based on SSA rank velocity
Feasibility
Limited
.com taken · — · tm risk
Low friction, available
Uniqueness
80
2 per 10,000 births
Won't be common in class
Name DNA
DutchGermanicModernUnisex1-syllableShortMinimalistCoolSurname-derivedGrounded
Character
independent spiritadventurous naturestraightforward honestypractical wisdomfree-thinking mind
People with this name

Qualities shared by notable Vans

authenticintrospectivepassionateexpressivesoulful
STRONG
High confidence

Van is an English unisex name with steady SSA rankings. It ranked #907 in the US in 2024.

Trend:→ Stable · +3 ranks
Feasibility:.com taken · — · tm risk
Popularity:#907 · rare
Van at a Glance
Meaning:From the preposition 'van' meaning 'of' or 'from,' originally a patronymic or locational prefix in Dutch surnames that evolved into a given name.
Language root:Dutch · Middle Dutch · Germanic
Peak rank:#868 in 2020
5yr change:+3 ranks
Sex usage:Boy #907 · Girl #10181
Notable bearers
Van Morrison
Northern Irish singer-songwriter
Van Gogh
Dutch Post-Impressionist painter
Van Etten (Sharon Van Etten)
American singer-songwriter
Similar Sound
VanceVaughn◈Evan◈IvanJan◈
Similar Style
Ren◈DaneLex◈Zane◈Kai◈Reed◈
Works Well With
Sibling names that pair naturally with Van
IvyLeoWren◈River◈Fox◈Sage◈DexAtlas◈
You Might Also Like
Ren◈
Celtic · #1145
↓ Declining
Dane
English · #880
→ Stable
Lex◈
Latin · #2216
↓ Fading
Zane◈
Hebrew · #306
→ Stable
Kai◈
English · #76
→ Stable
Reed◈
English · #421
→ Stable
Source: Social Security Administration baby names data. Popularity data reflects US births. Feasibility data updated monthly.
Van illustration
Name Intelligence
Van · Overview
Summary

Van is an English unisex name with steady SSA rankings. It ranked #907 in the US in 2024.

Strengths
Strong fundamentals
Van scores 72/100 on the Namesake scale — meaning, origin, and trend all contribute positively.
Works for any sex
56% boy · 44% girl. A genuinely unisex name is rare at this level of distinctiveness.
Modern · Earthy character
Van carries a cool, grounded quality that makes it distinctive without being invented.
Considerations
Domain taken
van.com is not available. Alternative TLDs may work.
Explore

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Data source:Social Security Administration
Coverage:US births 1879–2024
Updated:January 2025
ISR:Refreshes monthly
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