Eshin
A masculine name of Japanese origin meaning "disciplined nobility".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Eshin. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Eshin today is around 11 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Eshin births was 2015 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Eshin. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Eshin. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2015
5 babies that year
Average age
11
years old
2015 SSA rank
#12,644
Tracked since 2015
Popularity
Eshin: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Eshin 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 Eshin during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Eshin
The given name Eshin has its origins in the Japanese language and culture, with roots dating back to the 8th century AD during the Nara period. The name is derived from the Japanese words "e" meaning "blessing" or "good fortune" and "shin" meaning "truth" or "faith." It was a common name among Buddhist monks and scholars during this era.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Eshin can be found in the historical text "Shoku Nihongi," which chronicles the lives of prominent figures in the Japanese imperial court during the 8th century. The text mentions Eshin, a Buddhist monk and scholar who lived from 742 to 829 AD and was known for his contributions to the study of Buddhism and his role in the establishment of the Tendai sect.
Another notable figure with the name Eshin was Eshin Sozu, a Zen Buddhist monk who lived from 1199 to 1282 AD during the Kamakura period. He was a prominent figure in the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism and is credited with introducing the practice of "koan" study, a form of meditation involving paradoxical statements or questions designed to challenge the practitioner's understanding of Buddhist teachings.
In the 16th century, during the Sengoku period, Eshin Inaba was a skilled swordsman and samurai who served under the renowned warlord Oda Nobunaga. He was known for his bravery and loyalty, and his name is mentioned in various historical accounts of the time.
Moving forward to the Edo period, Eshin Gempo was a Buddhist monk and calligrapher who lived from 1666 to 1736. He was renowned for his mastery of the "cursive script" style of calligraphy and his works are still highly regarded today.
In more recent times, Eshin Kwannon was a Japanese Buddhist nun and activist who lived from 1924 to 2011. She was a prominent figure in the anti-war movement and dedicated her life to promoting peace and non-violence. She was awarded the prestigious Niwano Peace Prize in 2002 for her efforts.
While the name Eshin has its roots in Japanese culture and history, it has also been adopted by individuals from other cultures and backgrounds over time, each with their own unique stories and contributions to society.
People
Eshin + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Eshin as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with E
Other first names starting with E with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Eshin: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Eshin?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Eshin 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Eshin a common name?
We classify Eshin as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Eshin most popular?
The single biggest year for Eshin was 2015, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Eshin is about 11 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 Eshin in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Eshin a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Eshin 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 Eshin still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Eshin 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 Eshin 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 many people have Eshin as a first name?
For a quick modern take, check how many people share the name Eshin on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.