Namesakes
Sima Yan
(m) 236-290 
Chinese Emperors 280-290
Sima Yan
(m) 321-342
Chinese Emperors 325-342
Li Xuan
(a.k.a. Yan) (m) 862-888
Chinese Emperors 873-888
Mo Yan
(m) 1955-
Nobel Prize Winners 2012 (literature)
Notable Writers
Ba Yan
(f) 1962-
Olympic Medalists 1984 basketball (bronze)
Wang Yan
(f) 1971-
Olympic Medalists 1996 10 km walk (bronze)
Chen Yan
(f) 1979-
Olympic Medalists 1996 swimming - 4x100 m medley relay (bronze)