Tian - Name Meaning and Popularity -

Meaning of Tian

Tian is a masculine given name of Chinese origin—drawn from the character 天 (“heaven,” “sky”)—and is pronounced tee-ahn (/tiː ɑn/) in Mandarin and tyahn (/tjən/) in Vietnamese. Analytical data from the United States show that Tian has held a modest but steady profile among newborn boys, with annual registrations fluctuating between 5 and 26 since the early 2000s; it reached its highest count of 26 (ranked 903) in 2023 and most recently tallied 24 (ranked 900) in 2024. While it has never ascended beyond the 900th rank, its gradual rise from eight occurrences in 2014 to the high teens and mid-twenties today indicates a subtle uptick in interest. In a Persian inflection, Tian’s celestial meaning resonates with the classical image of the āsmān—imparting poetic breadth that transcends its East Asian roots. Few American parents have chosen it, yet those who do seem drawn to its unobtrusive charm, appreciating a name that balances technical precision with symbolic depth.