Zion

Zion comes from the Hebrew name for a hill in eastern Jerusalem. But the word Zion has also taken on symbolic meaning. In Judaism, the word is often used to refer to the city of Jerusalem and the Jewish people. In the Old Testament, Israelites are sometimes referred to as "sons and daughters of Zion."

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – also colloquially known as Mormonism – Zion is used to identify the "pure in heart," or followers of LDS practices, and also refers to a physical meeting place for Latter-day Saints.

"Zionism" also refers to a movement for the reestablishment and protection of a Jewish nation in Israel.

Zion is usually pronounced "zie-on," but among LDS communities, it's typically pronounced "zie-in." As a name, it's sometimes spelled Zyon and Tsion.

In the United States, Zion has quickly climbed the ranks of top baby boy names since 1998. Its most popular year was 2021, when it appeared as No. 136. By contrast, the name Zion appeared in the top 1,000 girls' names from 2005 to 2017, but has since become a more unique option.