What does Lan mean?
Lan is commonly the character 兰, “orchid,” a flower of refinement.
What does Xia mean?
Xia is commonly the character 霞, “the rosy glow of dawn,” or 夏, “summer.”
Lan vs Xia
Which is more popular?
Xia is more popular than Lan today: about 25 US babies were given the name Xia in 2025, compared with 0 named Lan.
| Lan | Xia | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Orchid (兰) | Rosy dawn clouds (霞) |
| Origin | Chinese | Chinese |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | LAHN | SHYAH |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1972 | 1981 |
| Peak year | 1982 (47) | 2019 (37) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 25 |
| Trend | Vintage | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Lan
Xia
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Lan | Xia |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 0 | 179 |
| 2010s | 61 | 251 |
| 2000s | 92 | 145 |
| 1990s | 183 | 120 |
| 1980s | 336 | 108 |
| 1970s | 97 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Lan or Xia more popular?
Xia is more popular than Lan today: about 25 US babies were given the name Xia in 2025, compared with 0 named Lan.
What is the difference between Lan and Xia?
Lan means Orchid (兰) (Chinese origin), while Xia means Rosy dawn clouds (霞) (Chinese origin).
Which name is older, Lan or Xia?
In US records, Lan first appears in 1972 and Xia in 1981, so Lan has the longer recorded history.