Zoen
A feminine name of Dutch origin meaning "kiss".
Name Census estimates that about 30 living Americans carry the first name Zoen. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Zoen today is around 12 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Zoen births was 2024 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Zoen. 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 Zoen. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
30
~ 1 in 11,425,145 Americans
Peak year
2024
8 babies that year
Average age
12
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,856
Tracked since 2001
Popularity
Zoen: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Zoen from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 16 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
Zoen 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 Zoen 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 Zoen
The given name Zoen is of Dutch origin, emerging in the Low Countries during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Middle Dutch word "zoen," which means "kiss" or "to kiss." This word likely stems from the Proto-Germanic root "*sunjon," meaning "to reconcile" or "to make amends."
In the Netherlands and neighboring regions, the name Zoen was initially used as a term of endearment or affection, reflecting the warmth and intimacy associated with a kiss. It was a popular name among Dutch families, particularly in the 16th and 17th centuries.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Zoen can be found in the medieval Dutch epic "Van den vos Reinaerde" (Reynard the Fox), written in the 13th century. The name appears as a character, albeit a minor one, in this satirical animal fable.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Zoen. One of the most prominent was Zoen van Beieren (1362-1416), a Dutch nobleman and military leader who served as the Bishop of Liège from 1389 to 1416. He played a significant role in the political and military conflicts of the time.
Another historical figure was Zoen van Pottelsberghe (1457-1525), a Flemish painter and stained-glass artist active in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. His works adorned several churches and cathedrals in the Low Countries, showcasing his artistic talent and mastery of religious themes.
In the realm of literature, Zoen van Utenhoven (1562-1627) was a Dutch poet and translator from the Dutch Golden Age. He is best known for his translations of classical works, including those of Ovid and Virgil, which helped introduce these ancient texts to a wider Dutch audience.
Another noteworthy figure was Zoen van Opstal (1605-1668), a Dutch painter and engraver who specialized in landscapes and vedute (cityscape) paintings. His works captured the beauty and architectural grandeur of Dutch cities and countryside during the 17th century.
Lastly, Zoen van der Meer (1719-1801) was a Dutch merchant and shipowner who played a significant role in the Dutch East India Company (VOC). His successful trading ventures and investments in the colonial enterprise contributed to the economic prosperity of the Netherlands during this period.
People
Zoen + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Zoen 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
Zoen: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Zoen?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 30 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Zoen 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 11,425,145 US residents.
Is Zoen a common name?
We classify Zoen as "Very Rare". It ranks above 46.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 30 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Zoen most popular?
The single biggest year for Zoen was 2024, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Zoen is about 12 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 Zoen in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Zoen a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Zoen 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 Zoen still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Zoen 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 Zoen 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 Zoen as a first name?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.