Recent in Baby
When Baby Resists SolidsWhen Baby Resists SolidsBaby Biting TipsBaby Biting Tips5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair Injuries5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair InjuriesWhen Baby and Pet MeetWhen Baby and Pet MeetTreatments for ColicTreatments for ColicBaby Milestones – The First YearBaby Milestones – The First YearTips for Relieving Teething PainTips for Relieving Teething PainBenefits of Making Your Own Baby FoodBenefits of Making Your Own Baby Food

Home › Baby Names Directory › Essien

Essien

♂ Boy

Pronounced ES-ee-en /ˈɛs.i.ɛn/Medium

Meaning: A Ghanaian name and surname of Akan origin, widely known through footballer Michael Essien. Traditionally used as an Akan family and given name; specific glosses vary by lineage.Low

In 30 seconds: A Ghanaian name: Essien is an Akan name and surname, known through Michael Essien (said 'ES-ee-en'). Rooted and distinctive.
💕 Browse more names
Origin MediumAkan
MeaningA Ghanaian name and surname of Akan origin, widely known through footballer Michael Essien. Traditionally used as an Akan family and given name; specific glosses vary by lineage.
U.S. rank (2022)#9236 ↗ Rising
2022 U.S. births8 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2012
Total births (all-time)≈ 53

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202220062022

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Essien is an Akan name and surname from Ghana, carried into wide view by footballer Michael Essien. It reads as a strong heritage name — rare in the U.S. (said 'ES-ee-en').

It appears rarely in the U.S., mostly in Ghanaian families. Rare, rooted, and distinctive.

Did you know? Essien is a Ghanaian Akan name and surname, familiar worldwide through footballer Michael Essien — a distinctive heritage pick whose fuller glosses vary by lineage (said 'ES-ee-en').
Overall data confidence 44%
References — Essien — Akan (Ghanaian) name/surname; Michael Essien

Variations

EsienEssieneEsi

Nicknames

EssiSien

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Essien…

Kwame— a like Akan name
Kofi— a like Akan name
Kwesi— a like Akan name
Kwabena— shares Essien's Akan roots
Quamari— another Akan name

Explore names like Essien

By themesurname-nameheritageakanghanaian

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Essien mean?

Essien is a Ghanaian name and surname of Akan origin, known through footballer Michael Essien.

How do you pronounce Essien?

It's said ES-ee-en /ˈɛs.i.ɛn/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Essien a boy or girl name?

Essien is used here as a boy's name.

How popular is Essien?

Essien is an extremely rare, newly emerging name in the U.S.

💬 Ask Nia