Save Gender Feminine Usage Chinese Scripts 煦琰, 絮燕, 徐燕(Chinese) Other Forms FormsXu Yan Meaning & History From the Chinese 煦 (xù) meaning "kind, gentle, gracious", 絮 (xù) meaning "raw silk, raw cotton" or 徐 (xú) meaning "composed, dignified" and 琰 (yǎn) meaning "jewel, gem, glitter of gems" or 燕 (yàn) meaning "swallow (bird)".