Entry № 2674 · Chinese origin

Zetian Zetian — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ ZER-tee-en /

Gender

Girl

Origin

Chinese

Meaning

"Wu Zetian — only female emperor of China"

Syllables

Rank · US 2025

№ 0

First recorded

Medieval (Chinese)

The meaning

A name that means "wu zetian — only female emperor of china".

Zetian (則天) means "emulating heaven" in Mandarin. **Wu Zetian (624-705 CE)** was the **only woman in Chinese history to rule as Emperor in her own right**, founding the brief Zhou dynasty. She rose from concubine to absolute monarch through political genius.

She remains one of the most consequential rulers of Chinese history.

Emulating heaven. The only female Emperor of China.

In its original form

The name in its native script.

則天

Transliteration: Zétiān
Pronunciation: / ˈzɜːr.ti.ɛn /
Root: —
Grammatical form: —

Popularity

Where Zetian stands.

Current rank · 2025

№ 0 in the U.S.

All-time peak

№ 0 in 0

Babies named Zetian · last year

87 in the U.S.

First entered SSA top-1000

Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular

Namesakes

Zetians before her.

Real people

Wu Zetian

Only female Emperor of China.

624 – 705 CE

In fiction

Zetian

Featured in Xiran Jay Zhao's Iron Widow.

2021 novel

Names connected to Zetian.

Numerology

The number behind Zetian.

The Diplomat

Zetian reduces to two — the number of Chinese emperor.

Parents on Zetian

Why families chose this name.

"China's only female emperor. Six letters. Zetian."

Mei · Mother of one · Xi'an