Khan
Khan is a surname of Turkic and Mongolian origin, used as a title in various global regions, and today most commonly found in parts of the Indian subcontinent, Iran, Eastern Europe, Uzbekistan and Russia.
Meaning & Origin of Khan
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Khan is a surname of Turkic and Mongolian origin, used as a title in various global regions, and today most commonly found in parts of the Indian subcontinent, Iran, Eastern Europe, Uzbekistan and Russia.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Khan
Khan first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1966, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2019, when 22 Khans were born — ranking #4,479 that year. As of 2026, Khan ranks #5,721 for baby boys with 16 births, holding steady (+2%). In total, more than 463 Khans have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Khan
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Khushal Khan Khattak (1613–1689; Pashto : خوشال خان خټک ), also known as Khushal Baba ( Pashto : خوشال بابا ), was a Pashtun poet, chief, and warrior.
- Mirwais Khan Hotak , revolted against Safavid Iran and established the Hotak dynasty.
- Kalu Khan Yousafzai , Afghan warrior hero who annihilated the Mughal army at the Malandari Pass devastating the Emperor Akbar the Great
- Mohammad Khatirjama Khan, leader of Pathan tribe, gained control over north Indian territory of today's Uttar Pradesh in the 20th century, formed his capital in the area known as Barwaliya.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Khan
Phonetically similar names — useful when Khan is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Khan
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About the name Khan
Khan is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1966 and has accumulated 463 births in the dataset. Khan's peak popularity came in 2019 when it ranked #3,595. Use the chart and map above to compare Khan's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2019 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- Names starting with "K" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.