Total births
2,718
Unisex name · since 1969
Zen
Zen has 2,718 recorded births since 1969 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 2022 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #955
- among boys today
- 2,718
- born since 1969
- 2020s
- peak decade
- 93%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Zen is the #955 most popular unisex name in the U.S. today, with 2,718 recorded since 1969.
Social Security Administration records show Zen recorded 2,718 times among boys since 1969, holding rank #955 nationally today, ahead of 93% of boys, peaking in the 2020s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1969 to 2025.
- #955 among boys today
- 2,718 born since 1969
- 2020s peak decade
- 93% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Zen is currently the #955 unisex name in America, more common than 93% of boys - 2,718 born since 1969, peaking in the 2020s.
- #955
- among boys today
- 2,718
- born since 1969
- 2020s
- peak decade
- 93%
- more common than other boys
Zen vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#955
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 93% of names given to boys today.
2020s
Peak decade
46% of everyone ever named Zen was born in this single decade.
2022
Single peak year
256 babies were named Zen in 2022 - its busiest year on record.
How Zen compares
2,718 Top 18% higher than 82% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Zen's all-time total is 7x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Zen | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 2,718 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 256 | 23 | 22,252 |
Zen's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Zen's SSA record in two at 2006 and the more recent half accounts for 85% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 15%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1969, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2022 peak of 256, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Zen at a glance
Top 1,000 boys' namePeak year
2022
Current rank
#955
Active since
1969
Zen popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1969–2025
- Peak year (2022)
- 256
- Annual births at peak, across 57 years of records
Zen popularity over time - girls
595 total births recorded since 1998 (Zen as girls' name)
Zen by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2020s was Zen's strongest decade.
1,247 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 46% of all-time use.
Zen births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1960s 5
1960s
5 births
- 1980s 11
1980s
11 births
- 1990s 152
1990s
152 births
- 2000s 492
2000s
492 births
- 2010s
2010s
811 births
- 2020s
2020s
1,247 births
What this shows Peak: 2020s at 1,247 births (46% of all-time use).
How Zen compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Zen's total volume
Zen vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Zen by state
Where Zen concentrates geographically, total births since 1969
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 426 | 15.7% |
| #2 | Texas | | 191 | 7.0% |
| #3 | Florida | | 176 | 6.5% |
| #4 | New York | | 165 | 6.1% |
| #5 | Georgia | | 84 | 3.1% |
| #6 | North Carolina | | 55 | 2.0% |
| #7 | Pennsylvania | | 49 | 1.8% |
| #8 | New Jersey | | 47 | 1.7% |
California share of Zen's total US births 15.7%
Even split
426 of 2,718 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 23 reporting states.
Zen appears in 23 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Zen? ▼
Zen has been given to 2,718 babies in the U.S. since 1969, according to SSA data. Among boys, it ranks #955 as of the latest data. 256 babies were born in 2022, its single highest year.
When was Zen most popular? ▼
Zen was most popular in the 2020s decade with 1,247 total births. The single peak year was 2022.
Where is Zen most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Zen are California (426 births), Texas (191 births), Florida (176 births).
Is Zen a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Zen is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 2,718 births, and as a girl's name it has 595 births.
How long has the name Zen been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Zen since 1969 -- 57 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Zen? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Zeno, Zenon, Zenas, Zenith, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Zen's data
- California records the most Zens (426 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Zen
Nearby Names Like Zen
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Zen
Zeno Boy
#2395 1,491 births
Zenon Boy
#5082 1,276 births
Zenas Boy
442 births
Zenith Boy
#2879 427 births
Zende Boy
46 births
Compare Zen side by side: Zen vs Zeno Zen vs Zenon Zen vs Zenas
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Zen
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1969–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Zen: #955 Unisex Name - 2,718 Births, Peak 2022." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/zen. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Zen draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.