Zion
Zion was the 142nd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 2,496 babies. Its best year was 2023, when it ranked 125th with 2,889 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 85 places. More babies were named Zion in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning Zion (Jerusalem) · Hebrew
Say it ZY-uhn /ˈzaɪən/
- Rank in 2025
- #142 boys, up 1 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 2,496boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20232,889 babies
- Total since 1880
- 53,897babies recorded
What does the name Zion mean?
Zion is the name of the hill of Jerusalem on which the City of David stood, and by extension of Jerusalem and the people of Israel. In 2 Samuel 5:7 David captures 'the stronghold of Zion'. Wiktionary traces the English form through Latin and Greek to Hebrew Tsiyyon, and notes that the Z- spelling came under German influence; the original meaning of the Hebrew word is not established. Wikipedia notes it is used as both a given name and a surname, for boys and girls.
צִיּוֹן (Biblical Hebrew, “Tsiyyon, Zion”)
How sure is this? Probable. The reference to Jerusalem's Mount Zion is clear; the meaning of the Hebrew place name is unknown.
Related names: Sion, Tzion, Zyon.
See also: Hebrew names, names from places.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Zion', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Zion (name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Hebrew Bible, II Samuel 5:7, JPS translation with notes (via Sefaria), Sefaria; verse reference and facts only, not quoted
Zion popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,035 | #142 | 94 | 2,496 |
| 2020 | #1,230 | #143 | 186 | 2,536 |
| 2010 | #691 | #229 | 414 | 1,530 |
| 2000 | #1,261 | #300 | 156 | 1,004 |
| 1990 | — | #5,819 | — | 9 |
| 1980 | — | #6,246 | — | 6 |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
How popular is Zion, counting every spelling?
Zion is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #155 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #142 for Zion on its own. Together these spellings went to 2,496 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zion | 2,496 | #142 | 13,157 |
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 Zion?
2,496 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Zion (0.69 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Zion 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 3 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Zion.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Zion?
About 46,400 people born in the US named Zion are alive today, with a median age of 10; half are between 5 and 18. That makes Zion 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.
Zion by state
How common Zion was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Hawaii (3.7×), District of Columbia (2.7×), Alaska (2.3×), Rhode Island (2.3×), Delaware (2.3×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in West Virginia, Vermont, Idaho.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Zion: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Zion, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Zion · Sibling names for Zion
Questions about the name Zion
What does Zion mean?
Zion means “Zion (Jerusalem)” (Hebrew origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Zion?
Zion was the 142nd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 2,496 babies. Its best year was 2023, when it ranked 125th with 2,889 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 85 places. More babies were named Zion in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Zion a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Zion in the US.
Where is Zion most popular?
In 2021–2025, Zion was most common in Hawaii (5.60 per 1,000 boys), followed by District of Columbia and Alaska.