Given name & surname
Essien
“a child of the people”·“the sixth-born son”
Essien is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “a child of the people” (African) and “the sixth-born son” (African). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “a child of the people” (African) and “the sixth-born son” (African). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is African.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 2006. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Essien through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 58
- 58 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2012
- 8 babies
- 2025
- 5
- #12,598 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 5 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 12,598 among boys’ names. The recent annual counts are too incomplete to establish a ten-year comparison. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 905 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Essien’s family of names
Essien has a related form in Esien. Essien has a related form in Esienne. Essien has a related form in Essienne.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Similar names
If you love Essien, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Anan
“the fourth-born child”
>99% boys
Adwin
“a great thinker; one who is creative”
>99% boys
Asis
“of the sun”
>99% boys
Issay
“one who is hairy”
>99% boys
Jayvyn
“having a light spirit”
>99% boys
Olumide
“God has arrived”
>99% boys
Abu
“a father”
>99% boys
Uchenna
“God's will”
>99% boys