Namesakes
Chinese Emperors:
3 emperors
Emperor Sima Yan 280-290 
Emperor Sima Yan 325-342
Emperor Li Xuan (a.k.a. Yan) 873-888
Nobel Prize Winners:
1 literature
(literature) Mo Yan 2012
Notable Writers:
1 author
Mo Yan 1955-
Olympic Medalists:
3 bronze
(bronze) Ba Yan 1984 basketball
(bronze) Wang Yan 1996 10 km walk
(bronze) Chen Yan 1996 swimming - 4x100 m medley relay