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At a Glance: Name: Zion – Meaning: biblical name for Jerusalem's Temple Mount/city, extended to mean the people of Israel – Origin: Hebrew – Gender: Neutral – Pronunciation: ZY-un
Zion is a Hebrew name, pronounced ZY-un (/ˈzaɪən/), that in its biblical use refers to Jerusalem's Temple Mount and city, later extended to mean the people of Israel. It's a neutral name with a timeless, classic style. You may see it described as meaning 'highest point' or 'highest peak,' but that's not backed by the etymology — the sourced senses are 'the Temple Mount/Jerusalem' and 'the nation of Israel,' and scholars haven't settled on a definitive root for the word.
Meaning & Origin of Zion
Meaning: Biblical name for jerusalem's temple mount/city, extended to mean the people of israel.
Origin: Hebrew.
A common claim: Zion is commonly said to mean 'highest point' or 'highest peak.' Actually: Wiktionary attests Zion's senses as 'the Temple Mount/Jerusalem' and 'the nation of Israel'; the word's ultimate root is debated among scholars, not settled as 'highest point.'
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Zion
Phonetic: ZY-un IPA: /ˈzaɪən/
Popularity of Zion
In Social Security data, Zion hit its peak at #125 in 2023 with 2,883 babies given the name, then eased to #151 in 2024 with 2,359 — SSA has tracked the name since 1917.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1917–2024.
Make Zion Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Zion, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Zion mean?
Biblical name for jerusalem’s temple mount/city, extended to mean the people of israel. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Zion)
How do you pronounce Zion?
Zion is pronounced ZY-un (IPA: /ˈzaɪən/).
Is Zion a popular name right now?
Zion peaked at #125 in 2023 and is ranked #151 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1917–2024.)
📊 How popular is Zion? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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