Jensen Unisex

Popularity: #269 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: JEN-sen /ˈdʒɛn.sən/

Origin: Scandinavian; English

Meaning: Son of Jens; son of John

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Jensen is of Scandinavian origin, derived from the Old Norse name "Jens," which is a diminutive form of "Johannes," the Latinized version of the Hebrew name "Yohanan," meaning "God is gracious." The evolution of the name can be traced from Hebrew to Greek as "Ioannis," then to Latin as "Johannes," and subsequently into various forms in Germanic languages, including the Old Norse "Jens." The suffix "-sen" in Jensen indicates "son of," a common patronymic element in Scandinavian naming conventions, thus literally translating to "son of Jens." Historically, the name Jensen has been borne by notable figures throughout the centuries. One significant milestone is the use of Johannes in the Christian tradition, particularly in the New Testament, where John the Baptist and John the Apostle are prominent figures.

The name gained further prominence through the translation of the Bible into various languages, including the King James Bible in the early 17th century, which helped solidify the name's presence in Christian contexts. The name Jensen itself, as a surname, became widespread in Denmark and Norway during the late Middle Ages, reflecting the common practice of using patronymics.

Culturally, Jensen carries connotations of heritage and lineage, particularly within Scandinavian communities, where surnames often reflect familial connections. The name has been associated with various historical figures, including Danish and Norwegian nobility, contributing to its enduring significance.

The use of Jensen as both a surname and a given name illustrates the blending of personal identity with familial legacy, a theme that resonates deeply in many cultures. This name encapsulates a rich tapestry of linguistic and cultural history, reflecting the interplay between language, religion, and social structure in Northern Europe.

Famous people named Jensen

In this section, you will find notable people named Jensen. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Jensen who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Jensen who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Jensen Ackles is an actor best known for Supernatural, Days of Our Lives, and The Boys.

Jensen Huang is a business executive best known for co-founding NVIDIA and leading its growth in graphics processing technology.

Fictional characters named Jensen

The following list of fictional characters named Jensen is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Jensen is a fictional character from the video game series Deus Ex. He is a skilled augmentations expert and the main protagonist in Deus Ex: Human Revolution.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Jensen, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

JacksonJasperJordanJulianJett

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Jensen. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

JadenKensenKieranLandonMasonGraysonHarrisonLoganDawson

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Jensen was first seen in the United States in 1927.

Jensen has ranked as high as #519 nationally, which occurred in 2025, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Ohio, Florida, and Indiana.

In the past 5 years the name Jensen has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Jensen is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Jensen was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Jensen.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 1,288 1,207 81
2024 1,110 1,059 51
2023 1,183 1,113 70
2022 1,178 1,105 73
2021 1,171 1,095 76
2020 1,163 1,100 63
2019 1,261 1,194 67
2018 1,273 1,196 77
2017 1,060 1,010 50
2016 961 907 54
2015 868 791 77
2014 860 793 67
2013 710 660 50
2012 570 519 51
2011 428 400 28
2010 373 318 55
2009 294 259 35
2008 238 196 42
2007 219 169 50
2006 181 138 43
2005 209 150 59
2004 181 125 56
2003 174 104 70
2002 195 100 95
2001 232 109 123
2000 269 144 125
1999 300 128 172
1998 347 143 204
1997 272 84 188
1996 254 83 171
1995 198 76 122
1994 156 64 92
1993 120 50 70
1992 124 55 69
1991 107 60 47
1990 120 69 51
1989 81 54 27
1988 67 53 14
1987 32 32 0
1986 56 56 0
1985 42 42 0
1984 39 39 0
1983 44 44 0
1982 38 38 0
1981 32 26 6
1980 29 29 0
1979 27 27 0
1978 27 27 0
1977 20 20 0
1976 20 20 0
1975 11 11 0
1974 6 6 0
1973 11 11 0
1972 6 6 0
1969 5 5 0
1965 5 5 0
1955 8 8 0
1954 5 5 0
1930 5 5 0
1927 5 5 0

Top States for Jensen (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 109
10%
OH 83
8%
FL 72
7%
CA 49
5%
TN 44
4%
MO 42
4%
IN 40
4%
KY 39
4%
PA 36
3%
NC 34
3%
MI 32
3%
GA 31
3%
AL 26
2%
IL 26
2%
VA 26
2%
IA 23
2%
OK 23
2%
NY 22
2%
AR 22
2%
WV 21
2%
UT 21
2%
LA 19
2%
KS 18
2%
SC 17
2%
CO 16
2%
AZ 16
2%
MS 13
1%
WA 13
1%
ID 12
1%
NJ 11
1%
MN 11
1%
ND 11
1%
WI 11
1%
MD 10
1%
MA 9
1%
SD 8
1%
OR 8
1%
NE 6
1%
NV 5
0%
VT 5
0%
CT 5
0%