Acen
An invented name with no definite meaning or origin.
Name Census estimates that about 649 living Americans carry the first name Acen. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Acen today is around 10 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Acen births was 2017 (53 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Acen. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Acen with official rankings and popularity over time.
People living today
649
~ 1 in 528,127 Americans
Peak year
2017
53 babies that year
Average age
10
years old
2024 SSA rank
#2,742
Tracked since 2004
Popularity
Acen: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Acen from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 362 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Acen remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Acen by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Acen during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Acens live
The SSA's state-level files cover 5 states and territories. Texas, Louisiana, California recorded the most babies named Acen, while Ohio, Arkansas, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 23 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Acen
The given name Acen has its origins in ancient Greece, derived from the Greek word "akenes," which means "unwavering" or "steadfast." This name first appeared in historical records around the 5th century BC, during the height of the classical Greek civilization.
One of the earliest known individuals bearing this name was Acen of Argos, a renowned philosopher and mathematician who lived in the 4th century BC. His teachings and writings on geometry and logic were highly influential during his time and served as a foundation for subsequent scholars.
In the realm of literature, the name Acen is mentioned in Plato's dialogues, specifically in the work titled "The Republic." Here, Acen is portrayed as a virtuous and wise character, whose unwavering commitment to truth and justice is celebrated.
During the Byzantine era, which spanned from the 4th to the 15th century AD, the name Acen gained popularity among the noble classes. One notable figure was Acen Komnenos, a military commander and statesman who played a pivotal role in the defense of Constantinople against the Seljuk Turks in the 11th century.
As the name spread across different cultures and regions, its spelling and pronunciation underwent variations. In ancient Rome, the name was adapted as "Acenis," and a prominent Roman figure bearing this name was Acenis Flavius, a respected senator and philosopher who lived in the 2nd century AD.
In the medieval period, the name Acen was found in various European regions, particularly in the Germanic territories. One notable figure was Acen von Habsburg, a nobleman and military leader who fought in the Crusades during the 12th century.
Throughout history, the name Acen has been associated with individuals known for their unwavering determination, steadfastness, and commitment to their principles. While the name may have fallen out of widespread use in modern times, its historical significance and lineage continue to be recognized and celebrated.
People
Acen + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Acen as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with A
Other first names starting with A with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Acen: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Acen?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 649 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Acen going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 528,127 US residents.
Is Acen a common name?
We classify Acen as "Very Rare". It ranks above 86.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 654 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Acen most popular?
The single biggest year for Acen was 2017, when 53 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Acen is about 10 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Acen in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Acen a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Acen in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Acen still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Acen in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Acen can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Acen?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many people have the name Acen at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.