Nan

Nan is a term with multiple distinct uses in language, geography, and culture. It can refer to a given name, a surname, or place names, and it also appears in linguistic and scientific contexts. The meaning and usage of Nan vary by language and region.

As a personal name, Nan is commonly a feminine given name in English-speaking contexts. It is often a diminutive of Nanette or Anne, and it has appeared in various periods of modern naming. In addition, Nan can function as a surname in some cultures, and it may appear as part of longer family names. Notable individuals with the given name Nan include Nan Goldin, an American photographer known for intimate, documentary-style work.

Geographically, Nan refers to Nan Province in northern Thailand. The capital and largest town share the same name, Nan. The Nan River is a major watercourse in the region and is part of the Chao Phraya River basin, contributing to agriculture and local ecosystems in the province and surrounding areas.

In Chinese and other East Asian contexts, Nan can be a component in place names or transliterations. In Chinese, 南 (nan) means “south” and is a common character in geography and personal names; as a romanization it may appear in various surnames or given names.

In science and technology, the term nano- denotes a factor of one billionth, and is used to form units such as nanometer (nm) and nanosecond (ns). This usage is distinct from the name Nan and from proper place or personal-name usages.