What does Lan mean?
Lan is commonly the character 兰, “orchid,” a flower of refinement.
What does Ying mean?
Ying is commonly the character 英, “flower, brave, outstanding.”
Lan vs Ying
Which is more popular?
Lan and Ying are given to a similar number of US babies today.
| Lan | Ying | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Orchid (兰) | Flower, hero (英) |
| Origin | Chinese | Chinese |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | LAHN | YING |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1972 | 1980 |
| Peak year | 1982 (47) | 1992 (16) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Trend | Vintage | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Lan
Ying
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Lan | Ying |
|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 61 | 0 |
| 2000s | 92 | 70 |
| 1990s | 183 | 84 |
| 1980s | 336 | 106 |
| 1970s | 97 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Lan or Ying more popular?
Lan and Ying are given to a similar number of US babies today.
What is the difference between Lan and Ying?
Lan means Orchid (兰) (Chinese origin), while Ying means Flower, hero (英) (Chinese origin).
Which name is older, Lan or Ying?
In US records, Lan first appears in 1972 and Ying in 1980, so Lan has the longer recorded history.