Boy · #12,153 in 2026

Valan

Valans are a Malayali caste based in Kerala, India. They are mostly based in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Current Rank
#12,153
Peak Rank
#12,153 (2018)
Total Babies
5
5-Yr Trend
Stable
2018
First Year
2018
Last Year
2018
Peak Year
#12153
Peak Rank
5
Total Count
1
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Valan

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

Valans are a Malayali caste based in Kerala, India. They are mostly based in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

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

Origin & history
According to some, the name derives from their use of tail nets (valu vala) for fishing. According to the people's traditional beliefs, they were brought to Kerala by Parasurama to work as boatmen, conveying passengers across the rivers and backwaters on the west coast. Another tradition is that the Valans were Arayans, and they became a separate caste only after one of the Perumal had selected some of their families for boat service, and conferred on them special privileges. They pride themselves that their caste is one of remote antiquity, and claim that ancient members included Vyasa , auth

The Story of Valan

Valan first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 2018, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2018, when 5 Valans were born — ranking #12,153 that year. As of 2026, Valan ranks #12,153 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 5 Valans have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2010s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

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SD
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OH
PA
NJ
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MO
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MD
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Top 10
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No data

Names that sound like Valan

Phonetically similar names — useful when Valan 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 Valan

What does the name Valan mean?
Valans are a Malayali caste based in Kerala, India. They are mostly based in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
How popular is Valan in 2026?
In 2026, Valan ranks #12,153 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.
When was Valan most popular?
Valan reached its peak popularity in 2018, ranking #12,153 that year with 5 babies given the name.
Is Valan a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Valan is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Valan?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Valan include Aakif, Abdirizaq, Abdulmannan. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👦
Aakif
Peak #12153
👦
Abdirizaq
Peak #12153
👦
Abdulmannan
Peak #12153
👦
Abniel
Peak #12153
👦
Acton
Peak #12153
👦
Adidev
Peak #12153
👦
Aito
Peak #12153
👦
Akoi
Peak #12153

About the name Valan

Valan is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2018 and has accumulated 5 births in the dataset. Valan's peak popularity came in 2018 when it ranked #12,153. Use the chart and map above to compare Valan'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.