Zion
Say it: ZY-on/ˈzaɪ.ən/
BoyMeans zion, a hill in Jerusalem and a name for the city4 letters2 syllables
#252
in Ireland (2025)
#247 with spellings combined
18
babies in 2025
#230
best rank (2023)
127
babies since 2008
Up 308
10-year rank change
Zion through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18 | #247 |
| 2024 | 17 | #251 |
| 2023 | 19 | #230 |
| 2022 | 6 | #493 |
| 2021 | 9 | #377 |
| 2020 | 12 | #332 |
| 2019 | 10 | #357 |
| 2018 | 3 | #703 |
| 2017 | 5 | #547 |
| 2016 | 7 | #448 |
| 2015 | 5 | #555 |
| 2012 | 4 | #616 |
| 2010 | 3 | #720 |
| 2009 | 3 | #701 |
| 2008 | 6 | #472 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Zion mean?
Zion, a hill in Jerusalem and a name for the city
Hebrew Tsiyyon, the hill of the old City of David in Jerusalem.
Say it right
ZYon
The second syllable is light, so it can sound like ZY-un.
The story of Zion
Zion is the name of a hill in Jerusalem, the site of the old City of David. In the Bible it becomes a poetic name for Jerusalem itself and later for the whole people of Israel. The word reached English through Greek and Latin, and the older English spelling was Sion. The Z came in later, probably under German influence.
In Rastafari and in reggae songs, Zion stands for a promised homeland, and that link has helped carry the word into use as a first name. The American basketball player Zion Williamson is a well-known bearer.
Zion first appears in the CSO records in 2008. Its best year so far was 2023, with 19 babies and a rank of number 230, and 18 boys were named Zion in 2025. It is newer in Northern Ireland, where its best rank so far is number 253 in 2025.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Zion (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Zion (name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Zion | 18 | 127 |
In Northern Ireland
#253 in 2025 with 7 babies. Best rank #253 (2025); 34 babies since 2018.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.
Zion is also given to girls: 3 since 2013.