Bastion

Meaning & origin

Bastion is a modern word name that entered the U.S. naming charts in 2002, reflecting a broader trend of parents choosing strong, evocative vocabulary words as given names. Its usage peaked in 2019, but has since declined year over year, suggesting it may have been a brief fashion rather than a lasting classic. With a 2023 rank of 5,608 and an incidence of roughly 1 in 106,755 births, Bastion remains rare but recognizable. No U.S. state recorded it as a standout favorite, indicating its appeal is diffuse rather than regional. The name's resonance with themes of strength and protection, reinforced by its use in popular culture (e.g., the Overwatch video game character), has given it a niche but dedicated following among parents seeking a name that feels contemporary yet grounded in historical meaning.

Bastion derives from the French word bastillon, a diminutive of bastille, meaning 'fortress' or 'stronghold.' It entered English in the 16th century as a military term for a projecting part of a fortification. As a given name, it emerged in the 21st century, part of the trend of using virtue- and strength-related words as names, popularized in part by the 2015 video game Overwatch, which features a character of this name.