Lian is a short, international name with several sources: in Chinese lián means "lotus", in Hebrew it is a short form of names ending in -lian, and in Spanish-speaking families it often stands for Julian or Elian. Its sound sits between Liam and Ian, which explains its appeal. Lian was almost unheard of in the United States in 2000, entered the top 1000 in 2018 and has climbed to number 428 in 2025.