Holding steady, #6,803 for boys today.
Popularity of Tian since 1974
Babies named Tian per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 16 | 0 |
| 1980s | 13 | 7 |
| 1990s | 46 | 37 |
| 2000s | 57 | 99 |
| 2010s | 21 | 129 |
| 2020s | 0 | 107 |
Meaning & origin
Tian is a name of Chinese origin, likely derived from the character 天 (tiān) meaning 'heaven' or 'sky'. First recorded in the United States in 1981, it has seen modest but stable use. Its peak popularity occurred in 2023, but it remains relatively uncommon, with an estimated 1 in 142,340 newborns receiving the name in 2025. Its trajectory has been stable, and it has not been concentrated in any particular U.S. state. As a name that reflects Chinese heritage, Tian carries a serene and aspirational quality, evoking the vastness of the sky. For families seeking a name with cross-cultural appeal, Tian offers a simple yet meaningful option, though its usage remains niche in English-speaking countries.
Tian is a name of Chinese origin, most likely from the Mandarin word 天 (tiān) meaning 'heaven' or 'sky'. It is used as both a given name and a surname in Chinese-speaking communities. As a given name, it may appear in combination with other characters, though its standalone use has been recorded in the United States since the early 1980s, reflecting broader cultural exchange.
“Tian” around the world
Where Tian lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Sibling names for Tian
Names that share Tian's style, for a brother or sister.
