NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Zion

Of Hebrew origin, a biblical place name meaning "highest point" or "memorial stone".

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.

Zion is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Zion popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #155, with 332 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 354 births.

This profile covers 3,141 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 94% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 3,217 living people in the UK are called Zion. 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

  • Zion ranked #155 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 332 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2023, when 354 boys were registered as Zion.
  • Zion ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #278 in 2024.
  • About 3,217 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zion as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 92.7% of Zion registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#155

2024

Births in 2024

332

Latest year

Peak year

2023

354 births

Estimated living

3,217

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Zion

In England and Wales birth records, Zion has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 92.7% of registrations are for boys and 7.3% 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.

93% boys
Boys3,141 (92.7%)Girls247 (7.3%)

Zion registered for boys

  • Ranked #155 in 2024
  • 332 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2023 (354 births)

Zion registered for girls

  • Ranked #1,302 in 2024
  • 25 girls registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2024 (25 births)

Meaning

What does Zion mean?

The name Zion has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Biblical Hebrew word "Tziyon," which means "a monument raised up" or "a conical mountain." The name is closely associated with the historic city of Jerusalem, which was sometimes referred to as Zion in ancient texts.

In the Bible, Zion is mentioned numerous times, particularly in the Old Testament books of Isaiah, Psalms, and Lamentations. It is often used as a poetic and symbolic term for the city of Jerusalem, the land of Israel, and the kingdom of God. The name holds significant spiritual and religious meaning in Judeo-Christian traditions.

The earliest recorded use of the name Zion can be traced back to the 8th century BCE, when it appeared in biblical texts and ancient Hebrew scriptures. Over the centuries, the name has been used by various notable individuals throughout history.

One of the most prominent figures associated with the name Zion was Zion Pallas, a 17th-century Russian philosopher and polymath who lived from 1670 to 1718. Another notable bearer of the name was Zion Chase, an American preacher and theologian who lived from 1779 to 1849 and played a significant role in the Second Great Awakening.

In the 19th century, Zion Diogenes Theophilus, a Greek philosopher and writer, made significant contributions to the field of philosophy. He lived from 1810 to 1885. Zion Tsarnaev, a Chechen-American boxer who competed in the early 20th century, from 1895 to 1968, was also a notable figure with this name.

In more recent times, Zion Williamson, an American professional basketball player born in 2000, has gained widespread recognition for his exceptional athletic abilities and has carried the name Zion into the modern era.

While the name Zion has its roots in Hebrew culture and religious traditions, it has transcended its original context and has been adopted by various cultures and communities around the world, each imbuing it with their own unique meanings and interpretations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Zion over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Zion in England and Wales, from 1996 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 Zion, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 332 births in 2024, compared with 354 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
095189284378199620102024

Decades

Zion by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zion 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 #173 1,536 5
2010s #398 1,179 10
2000s #674 389 10
1990s #1718 37 4

Geography

Where Zion is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Zion. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Zion ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #278 in 2024.

Scotland
13
Northern Ireland
6

Across the UK

Zion in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#290 in 2024

12 years of NRS records, 68 total registered

Northern Ireland (NISRA)

#278 in 2024

6 years of NISRA records, 27 total registered

Related

Names similar to Zion

FAQ

Zion: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Zion was ranked #155 for boys in England and Wales, with 332 births registered.

When was Zion most popular?

The peak year on record was 2023, with 354 babies registered as Zion in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Zion?

Of Hebrew origin, a biblical place name meaning "highest point" or "memorial stone".

How many people are called Zion in the UK?

A total of 3,141 babies have been registered as Zion across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 68 more in Scotland and 27 in Northern Ireland.

Where is Zion most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Zion ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #278 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

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.