Swan
Swans are birds of the genus Cygnus within the family Anatidae. The swans' closest relatives include geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae, forming the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. They are the largest waterfowl and are often among the largest flighted birds in their range.
Meaning & Origin of Swan
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Swans are birds of the genus Cygnus within the family Anatidae. The swans' closest relatives include geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae, forming the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. They are the largest waterfowl and are often among the largest flighted birds in their range.
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The Story of Swan
As a girl name
Swan first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1969, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1983, when 8 Swans were born — ranking #7,310 that year. As of 2026, Swan ranks #15,678 for girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 78 Swans have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Swan first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1889, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1925, when 11 Swans were born — ranking #2,588 that year. As of 2026, Swan ranks #12,106 for boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 124 Swans have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Swan
Phonetically similar names — useful when Swan 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 Swan
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About the name Swan
Swan is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1889 and has accumulated 124 births in the dataset. Swan's peak popularity came in 1925 when it ranked #2,588. Use the chart and map above to compare Swan's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
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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.