Ziyon

♂ Boy

Pronounced ZY-ən /ˈzaɪ.ən/High

Meaning: Variant of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem that became shorthand for the holy city and the promised homeland; often glossed 'highest point'Medium

In 30 seconds: Zion with a flourish in the middle: the holy hill of Jerusalem — symbol of homecoming from the Psalms to reggae — in a spelling that stands apart. Lauryn Hill sang it onto birth certificates.

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Origin MediumHebrew, American

MeaningVariant of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem that became shorthand for the holy city and the promised homeland; often glossed 'highest point'

U.S. rank (2025)#3753 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births30 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2010

Total births (all-time)≈ 875

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

Ziyon respells Zion, the Jebusite hill David took for his city — a name whose original sense is debated ('highest point' is the popular gloss) but whose symbolic career is unmatched: Jerusalem, the longed-for homeland, the Rastafarian promised land, the last human city of The Matrix. The y-spelling tracks the Hebrew vocalization Tziyon.

Zion boomed in 2000s America across Christian, Jewish, and Black families; Ziyon remains its rare variant, one letter closer to the Hebrew and two letters from anyone else's spelling.

Did you know? Lauryn Hill's 1998 lullaby 'To Zion', written for her son, moved the name from scripture and reggae into the American nursery — basketball's Zion Williamson finished the job.

Overall data confidence 80%

Behind the Name — Zion — etymology, debated

Variations

ZionTziyonZyon

Nicknames

ZiZy

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Ziyon…

Zion— the standard spelling of the same holy hill

Zaire— a fellow geographic Z-name of modern use

Jericho— another biblical place name for sons

Judah— shares the Jerusalem-deep scriptural roots

Explore names like Ziyon

By themehebrew biblical place-name

By meaningGod / Divine Earth / Nature

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Ziyon mean?

Ziyon is a variant of Zion, the holy hill of Jerusalem, popularly glossed 'highest point' though the original sense is debated.

How do you pronounce Ziyon?

It's said ZY-ən /ˈzaɪ.ən/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Ziyon a boy or girl name?

Ziyon is a boy's name.

How popular is Ziyon?

Ziyon is a rare spelling in the U.S.; Zion is the popular form.