Xian
Xi'an is the capital of the Chinese province of Shaanxi. A sub-provincial city on the Guanzhong plain, the city is the third-most populous city in Western China after Chongqing and Chengdu, as well as the most populous city in Northwestern China. Its total population was 12.95 million in the 2020 census, including an urban population of 9.28 million.
Meaning & Origin of Xian
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Xi'an is the capital of the Chinese province of Shaanxi. A sub-provincial city on the Guanzhong plain, the city is the third-most populous city in Western China after Chongqing and Chengdu, as well as the most populous city in Northwestern China. Its total population was 12.95 million in the 2020 census, including an urban population of 9.28 million.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Origin & history
The Story of Xian
As a girl name
Xian first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1998, with 9 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1998, when 9 Xians were born — ranking #9,259 that year. As of 2026, Xian ranks #14,477 for girls with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 87 Xians have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Xian first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1997, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2023, when 26 Xians were born — ranking #4,108 that year. As of 2026, Xian ranks #5,586 for boys with 17 births, holding steady (+5%). In total, more than 390 Xians have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Xian
Phonetically similar names — useful when Xian 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 Xian
What does the name Xian mean?
How popular is Xian in 2026?
When was Xian most popular?
In which U.S. states is Xian most popular?
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What names go well with Xian?
About the name Xian
Xian is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1997 and has accumulated 390 births in the dataset. Xian's peak popularity came in 2023 when it ranked #4,108. Use the chart and map above to compare Xian's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2023 →
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- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
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.