Zen
Zen is a boy's name of Japanese origin.
Meaning
Meditation or state of calm.
Origin and history
Zen is a name derived from the Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism, which emphasizes meditation and intuition. The word ultimately traces back to the Sanskrit term dhyāna, meaning meditation. In recent years, it has gained notable popularity in the United States as a modern, minimalist nature and spiritual name.
Popularity in the United States
2,718 babies in the United States have been named Zen since 1880. It ranks #2484 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #962.
States where it is most popular
- CA (29.5 %)
- TX (13.2 %)
- FL (12.2 %)
- NY (11.4 %)
- GA (5.8 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 0 |
| 1960-1970 | 5 |
| 1970-1980 | 0 |
| 1980-1990 | 11 |
| 1990-2000 | 152 |
| 2000-2010 | 492 |
| 2010-2019 | 811 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,247 |
Fun facts
- Although popularized through Japanese Buddhism, the term Zen originated from the Chinese Ch'an, which comes from the Sanskrit dhyāna.
- Nearly half of all U.S. births registered with the name Zen since 1880 occurred within the 2020-2025 period.