Tian
Tian is a male given name of South African and Chinese origin. Notable people with the name include:
- Slovene
Meaning & Origin of Tian
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Tian is a male given name of South African and Chinese origin. Notable people with the name include:
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Slovene
The Story of Tian
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Tian as a girl name dates back to 1974, when 5 babies received it. 1993 was its biggest year on record, with 9 newborns named Tian — #8,720 in the national rankings. The 2000s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 37% of all recorded Tians. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2018 (5 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 153 Tians have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
American parents first put Tian on the record books as a boy name in 1981, with 7 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 28 Tians were born — ranking #3,971 that year. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 36% of all recorded Tians. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #3,971 among boy names with 28 births, rising sharply (+56% over the past five years). In total, more than 415 Tians have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Tian
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Tian. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Kristijan
- Kristjan
- Sebastijan
- Sebastjan
- Tijan
Names that sound like Tian
Phonetically similar names — useful when Tian is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Tian
What does the name Tian mean?
What is the origin of the name Tian?
How popular is Tian in 2026?
When was Tian most popular?
In which U.S. states is Tian most popular?
Is Tian a unisex name?
What names go well with Tian?
What are nicknames or variants of Tian?
About the name Tian
Tian is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1981 and has accumulated 415 births in the dataset. Tian's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #3,971. Use the chart and map above to compare Tian's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2026 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "T" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.