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Home › Baby Names Directory › Sen

Sen

♂ Boy

Pronounced SEN /ˈsɛn/High

Meaning: Sen has more than one home. In Japanese it can render a word meaning 'thousand' (and other senses, depending on the character used), and it is familiar as an element in Japanese names. In Bengali, Sen is a prominent family name of Sanskrit origin, from sena ('army'), long borne in Bengal. As a given name in the West, routes vary, which we note.Low

In 30 seconds: One syllable, two homes: Sen can mean 'thousand' in Japanese, and it is a well-known Bengali family name (said 'SEN').
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Origin LowJapanese, Bengali
MeaningSen has more than one home. In Japanese it can render a word meaning 'thousand' (and other senses, depending on the character used), and it is familiar as an element in Japanese names. In Bengali, Sen is a prominent family name of Sanskrit origin, from sena ('army'), long borne in Bengal. As a given name in the West, routes vary, which we note.
U.S. rank (2024)#13859 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1989
Total births (all-time)≈ 43

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201819892024

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

Sen sits at a crossroads. Japanese writing gives the sound several characters, of which the best known means 'thousand'; the syllable appears in Japanese personal names and in the name of the tea master Sen no Rikyu. In Bengal, Sen is a family name of Sanskrit descent, from sena ('army'), carried by well-known figures in Indian life. Used as a Western given name it is short and modern, and the route depends on the family, which we note (said 'SEN').

It appears only very rarely as a given name in the U.S. Very rare, minimal, and international.

Did you know? In Japanese, sen most often means 'thousand' — though the meaning shifts with the character used. In Bengal, Sen is a long-established family name traced to Sanskrit sena, 'army'. The name reaches Western use from more than one direction, which we note.
Overall data confidence 38%
References — Sen — Japanese 'thousand' (character-dependent); Bengali surname from Sanskrit sena

Variations

SennSena

Nicknames

Sen

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Sen…

Ren— a like one-beat Japanese name
Kai— a like short international pick
Jin— a like single-syllable East Asian name
Leo— a like crisp two-letter-sound classic

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Sen mean?

In Japanese, Sen can mean 'thousand'; in Bengali it is a family name from Sanskrit sena, 'army'. Routes vary, which we note.

How do you pronounce Sen?

It's said SEN /ˈsɛn/ — one syllable.

Is Sen a boy or girl name?

Sen is used here as a boy's name.

How popular is Sen?

Sen is very rare as a given name in the U.S.

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