Given name & surname
Tien
“a fairy child; a spirit”·“the first and foremost”
Tien is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “a fairy child; a spirit” (Vietnamese) and “the first and foremost” (Vietnamese). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “a fairy child; a spirit” (Vietnamese) and “the first and foremost” (Vietnamese). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Vietnamese.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1975. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Tien through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,320
- 814 boys · 506 girls
- Most popular year
- 1992
- 57 babies
- 2025
- 14
- #6,412 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −38%
- Cooling
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 14 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 6,412 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 7.8% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 30 in 1992. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 8,223 as a first name in 2020; 2,161 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.
Tien’s family of names
Tien has a related form in Tienn. Tien has a related form in Tienne. In English usage, Tien as a surname has a related form in THIEN.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Tien, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Prestyn
“from the priest's town”
61% boys · 39% girls
Thai
“man from Thailand”
81% boys · 19% girls
Tam
“close to the heart” · “having heart”
52% boys · 48% girls
Kamaree
66% boys · 34% girls
Jaydence
71% boys · 29% girls
Thang
“one who is victorious”
94% boys · 6% girls
Amaree
“having great strength; a builder” · “one who will be forever beautiful”
52% boys · 48% girls
Hau
“one who is bold”
52% boys · 48% girls