Jensen
Jensen was the 282nd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 1,207 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 113 places. More babies were named Jensen in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning son of Jens (John) · Danish, Hebrew
Say it JEN-sun /ˈdʒɛnsən/
- Rank in 2025
- #282 boys, up 20 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 1,207boys
- Girls and boys
- 6% girls, 94% boys2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20251,207 babies
- Total since 1880
- 20,268babies recorded
What does the name Jensen mean?
Jensen is a Danish and Norwegian patronymic surname, "son of Jens". Jens is the Danish short form of Johannes, the Latin form of John, from Hebrew Yohanan, "God is gracious" (as DMNES gives for John). It is one of the most common surnames in Denmark. As a first name it is a recent American use.
Jens (Danish, “short form of Johannes/John”)יוֹחָנָן (Biblical Hebrew, “God is gracious”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Jenson, Jens, Hansen, Johnson.
See also: Scandinavian names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Jensen', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources (ed. S. L. Uckelman), Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'John', DMNES, Durham University
Jensen popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,266 | #282 | 81 | 1,207 |
| 2020 | #2,670 | #302 | 63 | 1,100 |
| 2010 | #3,063 | #723 | 55 | 318 |
| 2000 | #1,477 | #1,018 | 125 | 144 |
| 1990 | #2,414 | #1,342 | 51 | 69 |
| 1980 | — | #1,928 | — | 29 |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | #4,270 | — | 5 |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
How popular is Jensen, counting every spelling?
Jensen is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #271 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #282 for Jensen on its own. Together these spellings went to 1,347 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jensen | 1,207 | #282 | 5,579 |
| Jenson | 140 | #1,348 | 747 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Jensen?
1,207 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Jensen (0.33 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Jensen born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 7 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Jensen.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Jensen?
About 17,100 people born in the US named Jensen are alive today, with a median age of 8; half are between 4 and 13. That makes Jensen a young name: most people with it are children.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Jensen by state
How common Jensen was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in West Virginia (5.3×), Iowa (2.9×), Arkansas (2.8×), Oklahoma (2.7×), Kentucky (2.7×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Jensen: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Jensen, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Jensen · Sibling names for Jensen
Questions about the name Jensen
What does Jensen mean?
Jensen means “son of Jens (John)” (Danish, Hebrew origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Jensen?
Jensen was the 282nd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 1,207 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 113 places. More babies were named Jensen in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Jensen a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, 6% girls, 94% boys given the name Jensen in the US.
Where is Jensen most popular?
In 2021–2025, Jensen was most common in West Virginia (3.43 per 1,000 boys), followed by Wyoming and Iowa.