Tenzin is a Tibetan name that means "holder of the teachings", referring to the teachings of the Buddha. It is the first name of the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, and because he traditionally names the children brought to him, it has become one of the most common names among Tibetans in exile, including those in the United States. Here Tenzin ranked number 2668 in 2000, peaked at number 1762 in 2014 and stood at number 2254 among boys in 2025.