Zen
Zen was the 1144th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 185 babies. Its best year was 2022, when it ranked 906th with 256 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 810 places. More babies were named Zen in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Meaning Not yet researched how we research meanings
- Rank in 2025
- #1,144 boys, up 55 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 185boys
- Girls and boys
- 19% girls, 81% boys2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2022256 babies
- Total since 1880
- 3,313babies recorded
Zen popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,575 | #1,144 | 43 | 185 |
| 2020 | #3,280 | #1,199 | 48 | 160 |
| 2010 | #9,221 | #2,211 | 13 | 60 |
| 2000 | #15,020 | #2,863 | 6 | 32 |
| 1990 | — | #5,379 | — | 10 |
| 1980 | — | #6,243 | — | 6 |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
How popular is Zen, counting every spelling?
Zen is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #1,055 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,144 for Zen on its own. Together these spellings went to 192 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zen | 185 | #1,144 | 1,087 |
| Zyn | 7 | #10,692 | 26 |
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 Zen?
185 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Zen (0.05 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Zen 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 45 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Zen.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Zen?
About 2,700 people born in the US named Zen are alive today, with a median age of 7; half are between 4 and 16. That makes Zen 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.
Zen by state
How common Zen was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Georgia (1.9×), New York (1.7×), New Jersey (1.7×). In 28 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Zen: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Zen, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Zen
How popular is the name Zen?
Zen was the 1144th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 185 babies. Its best year was 2022, when it ranked 906th with 256 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 810 places. More babies were named Zen in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Is Zen a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, 19% girls, 81% boys given the name Zen in the US.
Where is Zen most popular?
In 2021–2025, Zen was most common in Hawaii (0.32 per 1,000 boys), followed by Georgia and New York.