Tawan
Primarily a boy's name with 348 recorded births. Also given to 60 girls.
Meaning & Origin
sky
Tawan is a boy's and girl's baby name of Thai origin, from the Thai word tawan (ตะวัน) meaning 'sun' or 'east' — the direction of sunrise — a name that connects a child to the most fundamental celestial force, the light that makes all life possible.
Tawan is a common Thai given name for both boys and girls, carrying the warm, direct meaning of the sun itself. It has the clean, two-syllable quality of Thai names, where meaning is immediate and connected to the natural world. A name that announces warmth, direction, and life-giving energy.
EtymologyShow more
Names travel. They cross oceans, change spelling, shift pronunciation, and accumulate new associations with each culture that adopts them. Tawan does not map cleanly to a single linguistic tradition in our records, which often indicates a name that has crossed cultural boundaries, been adapted between languages, or emerged from the blending that defines American naming.
Tawan’s rarity (348 recorded births) may indicate it is strongly tied to a specific cultural community or family tradition, rather than part of the broader American naming mainstream.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Tawan has 40+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1970.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 35 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 58 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 70 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 79 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 106 | — |
The Story of Tawan
A Gen X name
Peaking in 1973, Tawan is a Gen X staple. Boys named Tawan are most likely born between 1970 and 1983.
How rare is Tawan?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Tawan is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1970, peaked in the 1970s with 106 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Tawan by the numbers
- Would fill 7 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(40 years, 1970–2019)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 7 | #10681 |
| 2017 | 7 | #10645 |
| 2014 | 5 | #13830 |
| 2013 | 5 | #13834 |
| 2011 | 5 | #14113 |
| 2010 | 6 | #12045 |
| 2009 | 8 | #9757 |
| 2006 | 10 | #7929 |
| 2005 | 7 | #10022 |
| 2003 | 5 | #12559 |
| 2002 | 5 | #12299 |
| 2001 | 12 | #5970 |
| 2000 | 11 | #6260 |
| 1999 | 12 | #5619 |
| 1998 | 6 | #9515 |
| 1997 | 10 | #6036 |
| 1995 | 10 | #5870 |
| 1994 | 7 | #7678 |
| 1993 | 5 | #9999 |
| 1992 | 7 | #7315 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Tawan as a Girl's Name
Though more common for boys, Tawan has a notable history as a girl's name too, with 60 births since 1971.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tawan a boy's or girl's name?
When was Tawan most popular?
How popular is the name Tawan?
Can Tawan be used for both boys and girls?
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1970–2019