Names / Van
Is Van a first name or a last name?
Van is both: a family name in some places and a given name in others. It is mostly a given name in the United States and Belgium.
In Vietnamese names, Van (Văn) is a common middle name, traditionally for men: in Nguyen Van Minh it is neither the first nor the last name. In Dutch names, van is a particle that belongs to the family name (van Dijk).
How to address someone called Van
- United States. Van is a given name. Hi Van on first-name terms; formally, Mr. or Ms. goes with the family name, not with Van.
- Vietnam. Van is used both ways: 22% of people from Vietnam with this name in our data carry it as a family name. Look at where it sits in the name and how the person signs.
- Belgium. Van is a given name. Hi Van on first-name terms; formally, Mr. or Ms. goes with the family name, not with Van.
Not sure which part of a full name is which? Check the full name with the country where the person is based.
Van by country
People recorded in Wikidata who carry Van as a family name or as a given name, by country of citizenship (223 in total).
| Country | As family name | As given name | Family name share |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 15 | 133 | 10% |
| Vietnam | 6 | 21 | 22% |
| Belgium | 1 | 13 | 7% |
| Netherlands | 2 | 7 | 22% |
| Canada | 1 | 4 | 20% |
| Australia | 1 | 3 | 25% |
| France | 2 | 2 | 50% |
Wikidata covers notable people, so counts show how the name is used, not how many people carry it.
Van in the United States
- As a surname: about 10,798 people in the 2010 census, rank 3,320 among US surnames.
- As a first name: 18,429 babies born between 1950 and 2017, 7% of them girls.
Van as a given name: men or women?
About 12% of people with Van as a given name in Wikidata are women, and 7% of US babies given the name. This describes the name, not any one person: it is not a safe basis for Mr. or Ms., and the full name without a title is always polite.
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