NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Tenzin

A masculine Tibetan Buddhist name meaning "holder of Buddhist teachings".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 47 girls.

Tenzin is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Tenzin popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3688, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2013, with 8 births.

This profile covers 91 England and Wales registrations across 18 recorded years from 2003 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 63% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 90 living people in the UK are called Tenzin. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Tenzin ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2013, when 8 boys were registered as Tenzin.
  • Tenzin is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 90 living people in the UK are estimated to have Tenzin as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 65.9% of Tenzin registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3688

2024

Births in 2024

5

Latest year

Peak year

2013

8 births

Estimated living

90

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Tenzin

In England and Wales birth records, Tenzin has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 65.9% of registrations are for boys and 34.1% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

66% boys
34% girls
Boys91 (65.9%)Girls47 (34.1%)

Tenzin registered for boys

  • Ranked #3,688 in 2024
  • 5 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2013 (8 births)

Tenzin registered for girls

  • Ranked #3,695 in 2024
  • 6 girls registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2024 (6 births)

Meaning

What does Tenzin mean?

The name Tenzin has its origins in the Tibetan language and culture, dating back several centuries. It is derived from the Tibetan word "tendzin," which means "holder of Buddhist teachings." The name is closely associated with Tibetan Buddhism and is believed to have been adopted by Buddhist practitioners and scholars.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tenzin can be found in the 14th century, with the birth of Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama (1935-present). Tenzin Gyatso is a renowned spiritual leader and the head of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. He was born in Amdo, Tibet, and was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama at a young age.

Another notable figure in history with the name Tenzin was Tenzin Norgay (1914-1986), a Nepali-Tibetan Sherpa mountaineer. He was one of the first two individuals to reach the summit of Mount Everest, alongside Edmund Hillary, on May 29, 1953. Tenzin Norgay's accomplishment was celebrated worldwide and he became a national hero in Nepal.

In the 20th century, Tenzin Palmo (born 1943) is a renowned Buddhist nun and teacher. She is best known for her 12-year solitary retreat in a remote cave in the Himalayas, which she undertook to further her spiritual practice. Tenzin Palmo's dedication and perseverance have inspired many individuals around the world.

Tenzin Choegyal (1939-2007) was a Tibetan politician and activist who advocated for the independence of Tibet from Chinese rule. He served as the representative of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile, and played a crucial role in raising awareness about the Tibetan cause on the international stage.

Tenzin Delek Rinpoche (1950-2015) was a Tibetan Buddhist lama and activist who advocated for the preservation of Tibetan culture and language. He was imprisoned by Chinese authorities for his activism and died in prison under suspicious circumstances, leading to widespread outcry from human rights organizations.

These are just a few notable individuals who have borne the name Tenzin throughout history. The name continues to hold significant cultural and spiritual significance within the Tibetan Buddhist community and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Tenzin over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Tenzin in England and Wales, from 2002 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Tenzin, the clearest high point is 2013. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 8 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
036912200220132024

Decades

Tenzin by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Tenzin was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #3852 22 5
2010s #3168 48 8
2000s #3423 21 5

Related

Names similar to Tenzin

FAQ

Tenzin: questions and answers

How popular is the name Tenzin in the UK right now?

In 2024, Tenzin was ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.

When was Tenzin most popular?

The peak year on record was 2013, with 8 babies registered as Tenzin in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Tenzin?

A masculine Tibetan Buddhist name meaning "holder of Buddhist teachings".

How many people are called Tenzin in the UK?

A total of 91 babies have been registered as Tenzin across the 18 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.