Unisex · #487 in 2026

Lian

Lian is a given name, and may refer to:

  • German
  • Chinese
  • Hebrew
Current Rank
#487
Peak Rank
#487 (2026)
Total Babies
5K
5-Yr Trend
+107%
👧 Girl peak #3,191 (1K total)
👦 Boy peak #487 (5K total)
👦As Boy Name
1984
First Year
2026
Last Year
2026
Peak Year
#487
Peak Rank
5K
Total Count
34
Years Active
👧As Girl Name
1957
First Year
2026
Last Year
2017
Peak Year
#3191
Peak Rank
1K
Total Count
55
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Lian

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Lian is a given name, and may refer to:

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)

  • German
  • Chinese
  • Hebrew

The Story of Lian

As a girl name

The earliest SSA record of Lian as a girl name dates back to 1957, when 5 babies received it. 2017 was its biggest year on record, with 50 newborns named Lian — #3,191 in the national rankings. The 2010s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 34% of all recorded Lians. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #5,039 among girl names with 26 births, falling sharply (-32%). In total, more than 1K Lians have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1950s through the 2020s.

As a boy name

Lian first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1984, with 5 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 2026: 638 births, good for #487 nationwide. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 66% of all recorded Lians. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #487 among boy names with 638 births, rising sharply (+107% over the past five years). In total, more than 5K Lians have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Girls Boys

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Variants & Related Forms of Lian

Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Lian. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Names that sound like Lian

Phonetically similar names — useful when Lian 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 Lian

What does the name Lian mean?
Lian is a given name, and may refer to:
What is the origin of the name Lian?
Lian has roots in the following cultural and linguistic traditions: German, Chinese, Hebrew.
How popular is Lian in 2026?
In 2026, Lian ranks #487 among boys' names in the U.S., with 638 babies given the name that year.
When was Lian most popular?
Lian reached its peak popularity in 2026, ranking #487 that year with 638 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Lian most popular?
Lian has historically been most popular in Puerto Rico, New Mexico, Massachusetts. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Lian.
Is Lian a unisex name?
Yes — Lian is used for both girls and boys in U.S. records, with about 18% of Lians assigned female and 82% assigned male historically.
What names go well with Lian?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Lian include Dewitt, Rowland, Williams. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.
What are nicknames or variants of Lian?
Common variants and related forms of Lian include Julian, Kilian. These cover foreign-language equivalents, alternate spellings, and short forms.

About the name Lian

Lian is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1984 and has accumulated 5K births in the dataset. Lian's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #487. Use the chart and map above to compare Lian's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.