Thien

unisexVietnameseBuddhist

Thien is a Buddhist unisex name of Vietnamese, from Chinese origin, meaning “Heaven; or goodness, or Zen”.

MeaningHeaven; or goodness, or Zen
GenderUnisex
OriginVietnamese, from Chinese
PronunciationTEE-en
TraditionBuddhist, Modern & Classic
Used inVietnam, United States, Australia

Meaning and origin of Thien

Thien can stand for several Vietnamese words that differ only in tone marks: Thiên (天), 'heaven' or 'sky'; Thiện (善), 'good' or 'virtuous'; and Thiền (禪), 'meditation' or Zen. As a given name Thiên and Thiện are the most common, and they are used for both boys and girls, often as a middle name. Without diacritics the spelling Thien hides which one is meant, so families usually know the intended word.

Is Thien a Buddhist name?

Thiền is the Vietnamese name for Zen Buddhism, and Thiện is a key Buddhist ethical word for wholesome conduct, so the name can carry Buddhist meaning, though Thiên is often used in a secular sense.

How popular is Thien?

Common in Vietnam and in Vietnamese communities abroad.

Gifts with the name Thien

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Spellings and variants of Thien

Names similar to Thien

More Buddhist unisex names

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Thien mean?

Thien means 'Heaven; or goodness, or Zen'. It is of Vietnamese, from Chinese origin.

Is Thien a Buddhist name?

Thiền is the Vietnamese name for Zen Buddhism, and Thiện is a key Buddhist ethical word for wholesome conduct, so the name can carry Buddhist meaning, though Thiên is often used in a secular sense.

How do you pronounce Thien?

Thien is pronounced TEE-en.

Is Thien a boy or girl name?

Thien is used for both boys and girls.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.