Fun Facts About the Name Sion
- 883 babies named Sion: U.S. records list 883 babies given the name Sion from 1880 through 2025. Even 85 girls received the name Sion - about 1 girl for every 9 boys.
What Does the Name Sion Mean?
Sion is a Welsh masculine given name meaning "God is gracious." It is the Welsh form of John, which comes from the Hebrew name Yochanan (יוֹחָנָן), made of yo, a short form of the divine name Yahweh, and chanan, "to be gracious." The name passed into Welsh through Latin Ioannes and Greek Ioannes. In Welsh, it is often written Siôn with a circumflex. Independently, Sion is also an English spelling of the biblical place name Zion, from Hebrew Tsiyyon (צִיּוֹן). The meaning of that Hebrew name is uncertain; suggestions include "dry place" or "fortress," but no derivation is firmly established. In English Bibles and hymns, Sion is used as a variant of Zion, especially in older translations. It is not the source of the Welsh given name, and the two origins should not be confused.
Sion Name History & Origins
The Welsh name Sion developed as a vernacular form of John. John is a biblical name borne by John the Baptist and John the Apostle, and it spread widely in medieval Europe through Latin Ioannes. In Welsh, John appears in several forms, including Ioan, Ieuan, and Siôn; Sion is a common spelling without the circumflex. It is a traditional Welsh name used in Wales and among Welsh emigrants. As a Welsh given name, it is distinct from the English use of Sion for the biblical place name Zion. That place name comes from Hebrew Tsiyyon, a hill in Jerusalem associated with the City of David, and it was rendered in Greek as Siōn and Latin as Sion. In English, Sion appears in older Bible translations, hymns, and poetry as an alternative spelling of Zion. The two strands - Welsh personal name and English place-name spelling - are historically separate, though they share the same written form.
How Popular is the Name Sion?
Sion has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2022. Its best rank was #2,860 in 1912.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #17,294 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2022 | #17,412 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2017 | #12,577 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2016 | #15,979 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #9,999 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2007 | #20,139 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2006 | #19,657 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #11,489 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2003 | #15,501 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #13,426 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2000 | #9,783 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1999 | #12,512 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,981 | 42 | 0.0025% |
| 2024 | #3,668 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 2023 | #2,936 | 43 | 0.0025% |
| 2022 | #2,951 | 43 | 0.0025% |
| 2021 | #3,485 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 2020 | #3,121 | 37 | 0.0021% |
| 2019 | #3,139 | 38 | 0.0021% |
| 2018 | #4,718 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2017 | #5,268 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2016 | #5,281 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2015 | #4,526 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 2014 | #4,114 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 2013 | #4,773 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2012 | #3,614 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 2011 | #3,876 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 2010 | #4,501 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 2009 | #4,412 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2008 | #6,020 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 2007 | #5,638 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2006 | #5,042 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2005 | #5,538 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2004 | #4,972 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2003 | #5,229 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2002 | #3,766 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2001 | #3,496 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 2000 | #4,042 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1999 | #5,276 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1998 | #8,326 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1996 | #8,856 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1995 | #10,109 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1994 | #4,755 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1992 | #8,298 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #8,098 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1988 | #7,129 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1986 | #6,619 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #7,438 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1980 | #5,441 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1979 | #4,351 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1978 | #5,668 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1977 | #4,528 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1976 | #6,373 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1975 | #4,255 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1971 | #5,550 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1946 | #3,957 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1928 | #4,653 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1927 | #4,713 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1912 | #2,860 | 5 | 0.0012% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Sion Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are spiritually intense and can sting or charm. Your name brings love and new starts into life and attracts money. In business, you are the creator and promoter of original ideas and usually enjoy considerable financial success. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
Creative and outgoing, you are always looking for an opportunity to show your abilities, especially before audience. You are very flexible and like to feel appreciated. You are looking for chances to mix with others socially and to communicate your ideas. You like to talk and can easily relate to different cultures and concepts. The biggest challenge for you is uncertainty. Easily getting bored, you can move from one job to another, switch projects and lovers. The high creative force can lead you either to happiness or unhappiness. If you understand your goals, if you can make major decisions in life and follow it directly and straight up without worry and uncertainty, you are able to achieve great heights.
✦ Sion's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Sion's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.