Zihan
A name of Chinese origin representing intelligence and wisdom.
Name Census estimates that about 98 living Americans carry the first name Zihan. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 57.6% of registrations being male. The average person named Zihan today is around 10 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Zihan births was 2016 (16 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Zihan. 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 Zihan with official rankings and popularity over time.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Zihan. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
98
~ 1 in 3,497,493 Americans
Peak year
2016
16 babies that year
Average age
10
years old
2023 SSA rank
#12,119
Tracked since 2010
Gender
Gender distribution for Zihan
Zihan is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 99 total registrations, 57 (57.6%) were male and 42 (42.4%) were female.
Zihan as a male name
- Ranked #14,184 in 2023
- 5 male births in 2023
- Peak: 2016 (9 births)
Zihan as a female name
- Ranked #12,119 in 2020
- 8 female births in 2020
- Peak: 2015 (8 births)
Popularity
Zihan: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Zihan 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 79 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zihan 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 Zihan 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 Zihan
The name Zihan has its origins in the Persian language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Persian word "zih," meaning "life," and "an," meaning "that one." Together, the name Zihan signifies "that life" or "the one who lives."
In the historical context, the name Zihan was often associated with individuals who were considered to be life-givers or protectors of life. It was a name bestowed upon those who demonstrated courage, resilience, and a deep reverence for the sanctity of life.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Zihan can be found in the ancient Persian epic poem, the Shahnameh, written by the renowned poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th and early 11th centuries. In this literary masterpiece, a character named Zihan is depicted as a brave warrior who fought valiantly for his people and their way of life.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Zihan. One such figure was Zihan al-Tabari, a renowned Persian historian and scholar who lived from 838 to 923 AD. His monumental work, the "History of the Prophets and Kings," is regarded as one of the most comprehensive and authoritative chronicles of early Islamic history.
Another prominent figure was Zihan al-Baghdadi, a celebrated mathematician and astronomer who lived in Baghdad during the 9th century AD. He made significant contributions to the fields of algebra and trigonometry, and his works influenced the development of scientific thought in the Islamic Golden Age.
In the realm of literature, Zihan Mirza was a revered Persian poet who lived from 1640 to 1711. His poetry, known for its profound themes and exquisite imagery, has left an indelible mark on the Persian literary tradition.
During the 19th century, Zihan Khan was a prominent Afghan military leader and statesman. He played a pivotal role in the Afghan struggle against British colonial rule and is remembered for his bravery and unwavering dedication to his country's independence.
It is worth noting that while the name Zihan has its roots in the Persian language and culture, it has also been adopted and adapted by various other cultures and communities around the world, each imbuing it with their own unique meanings and significance.
People
Zihan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Zihan as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with Z
Other first names starting with Z with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Zihan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Zihan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 98 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Zihan 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 3,497,493 US residents.
Is Zihan a common name?
We classify Zihan as "Very Rare". It ranks above 64.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 99 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Zihan most popular?
The single biggest year for Zihan was 2016, when 16 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Zihan 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 Zihan in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Zihan a male name?
Yes, 57.6% of people registered as Zihan 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 Zihan still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Zihan 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 Zihan 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 Zihan?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.