US Popularity Rank: 24971

Origin: Chinese

Meaning: Headspring; Chief; Abyss, deep water; Distant; Ascend; Gentleness; Leisurely; Kindness; Superiority; Apricot, apricot tree; Well-born

Yuan is a gender-neutral name, primarily given to boys, with origins that span the globe. As a Chinese surname and word, Yuan refers to a unit of currency, the name of a dynasty period from 1279 to 1368, and holds significance throughout Chinese history. It has many definitions depending on the characters used to spell Yuan, including “headspring, “chief,” “abyss,” “deep water,” “distant,” and “ascend,” just to list a few. Yuan also has roots in Japanese, where it’s primarily masculine and holds a fleet of endearments like “gentleness,” “kindness,” “apricot,” “apricot tree,” “superiority,” and “leisurely.” Finally, Yuan is also a Scottish surname inspired by Ewen, which comes from the Greek Eugene, meaning “well-born.” Though short and sweet, eloquent Yuan has no shortage of meaning and charm.