Seyon
A name of Sri Lankan origin meaning "beautiful as the moon".
Name Census estimates that about 127 living Americans carry the first name Seyon. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Seyon today is around 8 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Seyon births was 2017 (20 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Seyon. 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 Seyon with official rankings and popularity over time.
People living today
127
~ 1 in 2,698,853 Americans
Peak year
2017
20 babies that year
Average age
8
years old
2024 SSA rank
#7,165
Tracked since 2010
Popularity
Seyon: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Seyon from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 73 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Seyon remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Seyon 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 Seyon 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 Seyon
The name Seyon has its origins rooted in ancient Aramaic and Hebrew cultures, dating back to the first century BC. It is derived from the Aramaic word "seyon," which means "to gaze" or "to behold," and was initially used as a descriptive moniker for individuals with a striking or captivating presence.
In early religious texts, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Talmud, the name Seyon is mentioned in reference to several minor figures, though their specific identities and roles remain obscure. However, it is evident that the name held a certain reverence and significance within these ancient societies.
The earliest recorded example of the name Seyon can be traced back to a Jewish scholar and philosopher from the 2nd century AD, known as Seyon ben Yohai. He was renowned for his profound wisdom and contributions to the study of the Talmud, leaving a lasting impact on Jewish intellectual traditions.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Seyon was relatively uncommon, but it did find occasional usage among Jewish communities in the Middle East and parts of Europe. One notable figure bearing this name was Seyon ibn Gabirol, a celebrated Spanish-Jewish philosopher and poet who lived from 1021 to 1058 AD. His works, such as the philosophical treatise "Fons Vitae" and the poetic collection "Kether Malkhuth," were highly influential and widely studied during his time.
In the 16th century, a prominent Sephardic Rabbi and scholar, Seyon Tzemach, gained recognition for his expertise in Jewish law and his commentaries on the Torah. His teachings and writings were widely disseminated and continue to be studied by religious scholars to this day.
Another historical figure of note was Seyon ben Judah, a 17th-century Kabbalist and mystic from Safed, Palestine. He was known for his contributions to the study of Jewish mysticism and his writings on the mystical aspects of the Torah.
The name Seyon has also been documented in various other cultures and languages, though its usage has been relatively limited. For instance, in some East African regions, the name Seyon is believed to have been derived from an ancient Amharic word meaning "watchful" or "vigilant."
While the name Seyon has not been widely popular throughout history, it has maintained a niche presence, especially within certain religious and cultural traditions. Its ancient roots and symbolic meanings continue to captivate those who appreciate the richness of linguistic and cultural heritage.
People
Seyon + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Seyon 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
Seyon: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Seyon?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 127 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Seyon 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 2,698,853 US residents.
Is Seyon a common name?
We classify Seyon as "Very Rare". It ranks above 68% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 128 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Seyon most popular?
The single biggest year for Seyon was 2017, when 20 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Seyon is about 8 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 Seyon in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Seyon a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Seyon 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 Seyon still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Seyon 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 Seyon 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 Seyon as a first name?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.