Seon
A unisex name of Korean origin meaning "pure" or "virtuous".
Name Census estimates that about 208 living Americans carry the first name Seon. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Seon today is around 33 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Seon births was 2006 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Seon. 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
208
~ 1 in 1,647,857 Americans
Peak year
2006
11 babies that year
Average age
33
years old
2020 SSA rank
#13,707
Tracked since 1969
Popularity
Seon: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Seon from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 58 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Seon 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 Seon during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Seon
The name Seon is believed to have originated from the Korean language, with its roots traced back to the ancient Korean kingdom of Silla, which flourished from the 1st century BC to the 10th century AD. In the Korean language, the name Seon is often associated with the word "seon" meaning "Buddhist meditation" or "enlightenment."
During the Silla period, Buddhism played a significant role in the cultural and spiritual life of the Korean people. Seon Buddhism, a school of Korean Buddhism influenced by Chinese Chan Buddhism, became prevalent during this time. It is possible that the name Seon was derived from this Buddhist tradition, reflecting the aspiration for spiritual enlightenment or a connection to the meditative practices of Seon Buddhism.
Some historical records suggest that the name Seon might have been used by Buddhist monks or scholars during the Silla period, though specific references are limited. The earliest recorded instances of the name Seon are found in Korean genealogical records and historical texts from the Goryeo dynasty (918-1392 AD) and the Joseon dynasty (1392-1897 AD).
One of the earliest notable figures with the name Seon was Seon Naong (1320-1376), a renowned Korean Buddhist monk and scholar of the Goryeo dynasty. He was instrumental in reviving and spreading the teachings of Seon Buddhism in Korea and is considered a pivotal figure in the history of Korean Buddhism.
Another prominent individual with the name Seon was Seon U (1786-1839), a Korean philosopher and scholar during the Joseon dynasty. He was known for his contributions to the development of Korean Neo-Confucianism and his writings on ethics and moral philosophy.
In the 20th century, Seon Hye-sook (1918-1984) was a renowned Korean writer and activist who played a significant role in the Korean independence movement against Japanese colonial rule. Her literary works and activism left a lasting impact on Korean literature and the fight for national sovereignty.
Seon Yeong-hun (1936-2018) was a prominent South Korean politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade from 1994 to 1998. He played a crucial role in strengthening South Korea's international relations and promoting economic cooperation.
More recently, Seon Mi-na (born 1981) is a South Korean actress and model who has gained popularity for her roles in various television dramas and films, showcasing her versatility and talent in the entertainment industry.
While the name Seon has its origins deeply rooted in Korean culture and history, it has transcended borders and found its way into other cultures and languages, reflecting the global reach and appreciation for its unique meaning and significance.
People
Seon + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Seon as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Seon: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Seon?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 208 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Seon 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 1,647,857 US residents.
Is Seon a common name?
We classify Seon as "Very Rare". It ranks above 74.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 216 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Seon most popular?
The single biggest year for Seon was 2006, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Seon is about 33 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Seon a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Seon 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.
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.