Hemen
A masculine name of Turkish origin representing strength and power.
Name Census estimates that about 169 living Americans carry the first name Hemen. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Hemen today is around 5 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Hemen births was 2024 (47 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Hemen. 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.
People living today
169
~ 1 in 2,028,132 Americans
Peak year
2024
47 babies that year
Average age
5
years old
2024 SSA rank
#3,341
Tracked since 2015
Popularity
Hemen: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Hemen from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 131 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hemen 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 Hemen during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Hemens live
The SSA's state-level files cover 5 states and territories. Washington, Virginia, Georgia recorded the most babies named Hemen, while Nevada, Maryland, Georgia recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 9 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Hemen
The given name Hemen has its origins in the ancient Mesopotamian civilization, specifically in the Sumerian language spoken in the region of modern-day Iraq. It is derived from the Sumerian word "he-men," which translates to "lord" or "master." This suggests that the name was likely bestowed upon individuals of high social standing or authority within the Sumerian society.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hemen can be found in the Epic of Gilgamesh, a Sumerian epic poem dating back to around 2100 BCE. In this literary work, Hemen is mentioned as one of the heroes who accompanied the legendary king Gilgamesh on his adventures. This reference provides evidence of the name's antiquity and its association with the Sumerian culture.
During the height of the Sumerian civilization, which flourished between 3500 BCE and 2000 BCE, the name Hemen gained popularity among the ruling classes and nobility. It was often bestowed upon princes, warriors, and other individuals of significant social status. The name's connection to the concept of lordship and mastery made it a desirable choice for parents seeking to bestow a sense of power and authority upon their sons.
As the Sumerian culture gave way to other civilizations in the region, such as the Akkadians and Babylonians, the name Hemen was adopted and adapted by these subsequent cultures. Its usage can be traced through various historical records and inscriptions from these periods, although its popularity and significance may have varied across different regions and time periods.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Hemen. One of the earliest recorded figures was Hemen the Scribe, a Sumerian writer and scholar who lived around 2500 BCE and is credited with preserving many ancient Sumerian texts. Another prominent figure was Hemen of Ur, a high-ranking priest and advisor to the Sumerian king Shulgi, who ruled around 2100 BCE.
In more recent times, the name Hemen has been less common, but it has not been entirely forgotten. One notable bearer was Hemen Konar (1914-2002), a Turkish author and poet who wrote extensively about the Kurdish culture and struggles. Additionally, Hemen Navrude (1933-2009) was a Norwegian architect known for his innovative and sustainable building designs.
While the name Hemen may not be as widespread today as it once was, its rich historical roots and association with the ancient Sumerian civilization serve as a testament to the enduring legacy of one of the earliest civilizations in human history.
People
Hemen + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Hemen as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with H
Other first names starting with H with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Hemen: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Hemen?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 169 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Hemen 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 2,028,132 US residents.
Is Hemen a common name?
We classify Hemen as "Very Rare". It ranks above 72% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 170 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Hemen most popular?
The single biggest year for Hemen was 2024, when 47 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Hemen is about 5 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Hemen a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Hemen in the SSA data are female. 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.
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.