A surname meaning 'mountain', from the ancient state of Shan.
What the character means
strength, stability and grandeur
Theme basis:山 = mountain
Why it scores this way
Easy to say88
Mostly easy. The only friction is sh, which English speakers usually turn into something close.
Recognised in China49
Outside the top 100 — distinctive, but some people will ask you to repeat or write it.
Easy to write100
3 strokes — one of the simpler surnames to write and sign.
People who carried this name
Shan Tao — Wei-Jin scholar (205–283), one of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove.
Shan Jian — Shan Jian, son of Shan Tao, was a Western Jin official and general. Known for his fondness for wine, he governed Xiangyang and earned the sobriquet 'Gaoyang drunkard'.
Shan Yun — Shan Yun was a Ming dynasty general who served as commander in Guangxi, suppressing rebellions and earning a noble title for his military merits.