Swan
Primarily a boy's name of Old English origin with 124 recorded births. Also given to 78 girls.
Meaning & Origin
someone connected with the Sydney Swans, as a fan, player, coach, etc.
Swan is a baby name of Old English origin, from the Old English swan meaning 'swan' — the graceful white waterbird that has symbolized beauty, grace, and purity across European cultures for millennia. The swan's legendary song at the moment of death gave us the expression "swan song."
As a given name, Swan carries the serene, aristocratic quality of the swan itself. In Norse mythology, Valkyries could transform into swans. In ballet, Swan Lake immortalized the swan's grace. It is a nature name of extraordinary elegance — rare, beautiful, and completely memorable.
EtymologyShow more
Swan is built from 4 letters and one syllable — a compact structure that favors quick recognition and easy recall. Within the Old English naming tradition, this brevity is common among names that have been worn down through centuries of use, shedding syllables along the way.
The interplay of consonants and vowels in Swan creates its characteristic clean, contemporary quality. One-syllable names stand out for their directness. Every sound carries weight, making pronunciation and first impressions immediate.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Swan has 19+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1889.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5 | #13805 | — |
| 1990s | 5 | #11391 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 13 | #6413 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 8 | #3072 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 59 | #3810 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 24 | #3965 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 5 | #1407 | — |
| 1880s | 5 | #1099 | — |
The Story of Swan
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1925, Swan is a name steeped in history. Boys named Swan are most likely born between 1915 and 1935.
How rare is Swan?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Swan is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1889, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 59 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Swan by the numbers
- Would fill 3 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(19 years, 1889–2014)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 5 | #13805 |
| 1999 | 5 | #11391 |
| 1988 | 8 | #5673 |
| 1981 | 5 | #7152 |
| 1931 | 8 | #3072 |
| 1929 | 6 | #3913 |
| 1928 | 5 | #4663 |
| 1927 | 9 | #3120 |
| 1926 | 5 | #4761 |
| 1925 | 11 | #2732 |
| 1924 | 5 | #4873 |
| 1921 | 8 | #3477 |
| 1920 | 10 | #2938 |
| 1918 | 6 | #4118 |
| 1917 | 7 | #3509 |
| 1916 | 5 | #4452 |
| 1915 | 6 | #3781 |
| 1905 | 5 | #1407 |
| 1889 | 5 | #1099 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Swan as a Girl's Name
Though more common for boys, Swan has a notable history as a girl's name too, with 78 births since 1969.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Swan a boy's or girl's name?
When was Swan most popular?
How popular is the name Swan?
Can Swan be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1889–2014