San Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: sahn /sæn/
Origin: Japanese; English
Meaning: Japanese: three; English: from the name San
Historical & Cultural Background
The name San has roots in various linguistic traditions, with one prominent origin being the Japanese language, where it serves as an honorific suffix meaning 'three' or 'three times.' In a different context, San can also be derived from the Sanskrit word 'sāna,' which means 'to be calm' or 'peaceful.' This name has been adopted in various cultures, often reflecting a sense of tranquility or balance. The transition of the name into English contexts is less direct, as it often appears in transliterations or as part of compound names rather than as a standalone name.
Historically, the name San has been associated with various cultural figures and practices. In Japan, the use of 'san' as an honorific has been prevalent since at least the Edo period (17th to 19th centuries), signifying respect and politeness in social interactions.
This cultural practice has contributed to the name's resonance within Japanese society, where it is commonly used in everyday language. Additionally, the name has appeared in various literary works and folklore, further embedding it in cultural narratives.
Culturally, the name San evokes notions of harmony and respect, aligning with traditional values in societies that emphasize community and interpersonal relationships. In some contexts, it may also be associated with spiritual or philosophical concepts, particularly in Eastern traditions that prioritize peace and calmness.
While diminutive forms or variations of the name may exist, such as 'Sana,' the core significance of San remains rooted in its historical and cultural connotations, reflecting a broader appreciation for the qualities it embodies.
Famous people named San
In this section, you will find notable people named San. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named San who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named San who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
San Francisco is a city best known for its iconic Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, and vibrant cultural scene.
Fictional characters named San
The following list of fictional characters named San is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
San is a fictional character from the animated film Princess Mononoke. She is a fierce and determined young woman raised by wolves who fights to protect the forest and its creatures.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with San, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with San. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name San was first seen in the United States in 1911.
San has ranked as high as #1799 nationally, which occurred in 1950, and has been most popular in Texas, and California.
In the past 5 years the name San has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name San is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when San was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for San.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | 5 | 8 |
| 2024 | 11 | 6 | 5 |
| 2021 | 12 | 5 | 7 |
| 2020 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2019 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2017 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2016 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 2015 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| 2014 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2013 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2010 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2008 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2007 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2005 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2004 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 2003 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 2002 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2001 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2000 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1999 | 16 | 10 | 6 |
| 1998 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1997 | 13 | 6 | 7 |
| 1996 | 16 | 9 | 7 |
| 1995 | 20 | 13 | 7 |
| 1994 | 15 | 8 | 7 |
| 1993 | 19 | 9 | 10 |
| 1992 | 24 | 15 | 9 |
| 1991 | 30 | 17 | 13 |
| 1990 | 29 | 15 | 14 |
| 1989 | 26 | 15 | 11 |
| 1988 | 24 | 11 | 13 |
| 1987 | 27 | 16 | 11 |
| 1986 | 27 | 12 | 15 |
| 1985 | 25 | 15 | 10 |
| 1984 | 40 | 23 | 17 |
| 1983 | 26 | 9 | 17 |
| 1982 | 48 | 20 | 28 |
| 1981 | 38 | 18 | 20 |
| 1980 | 44 | 16 | 28 |
| 1979 | 28 | 8 | 20 |
| 1978 | 36 | 10 | 26 |
| 1977 | 37 | 9 | 28 |
| 1976 | 31 | 10 | 21 |
| 1975 | 52 | 13 | 39 |
| 1974 | 44 | 8 | 36 |
| 1973 | 47 | 7 | 40 |
| 1972 | 42 | 13 | 29 |
| 1971 | 68 | 13 | 55 |
| 1970 | 51 | 9 | 42 |
| 1969 | 64 | 9 | 55 |
| 1968 | 56 | 5 | 51 |
| 1967 | 63 | 15 | 48 |
| 1966 | 54 | 6 | 48 |
| 1965 | 49 | 6 | 43 |
| 1964 | 47 | 5 | 42 |
| 1963 | 44 | 6 | 38 |
| 1962 | 54 | 8 | 46 |
| 1961 | 50 | 8 | 42 |
| 1960 | 52 | 5 | 47 |
| 1959 | 45 | 9 | 36 |
| 1958 | 47 | 0 | 47 |
| 1957 | 47 | 9 | 38 |
| 1956 | 47 | 5 | 42 |
| 1955 | 35 | 0 | 35 |
| 1954 | 55 | 7 | 48 |
| 1953 | 47 | 5 | 42 |
| 1952 | 36 | 0 | 36 |
| 1951 | 52 | 0 | 52 |
| 1950 | 74 | 8 | 66 |
| 1949 | 51 | 9 | 42 |
| 1948 | 36 | 0 | 36 |
| 1947 | 35 | 7 | 28 |
| 1946 | 25 | 0 | 25 |
| 1945 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| 1944 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| 1943 | 11 | 5 | 6 |
| 1942 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1941 | 12 | 5 | 7 |
| 1940 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1938 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1937 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1935 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1934 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1933 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1932 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1931 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1930 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1929 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1928 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1927 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1926 | 12 | 5 | 7 |
| 1925 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1924 | 17 | 5 | 12 |
| 1922 | 14 | 5 | 9 |
| 1921 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1920 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1919 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1917 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1911 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Top States for San (1993)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 5 |