How to say it
JEN · sen
/ˈdʒɛn.sən/
Masculine
Jensen
Son of Jens
What it means
A Danish and Norwegian patronymic surname, 'son of Jens,' Jens being the Scandinavian form of John.
Jensen is one of the most common surnames in Denmark, meaning 'son of Jens,' and Jens is the Nordic form of John, from the Hebrew for 'God is gracious.' It crossed into first-name use on the surname-as-first wave, with actor Jensen Ackles giving it a recent boost. Danes say YEN-sen; English speakers usually say JEN-sen. Jenson is the common variant.
Popularity over time
peaked at #282 in 2025, currently #282 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pronunciation
English JEN-sen; Danish YEN-sen.
- Spelling
A patronymic surname, 'son of Jens (John)'; Jenson is the lighter variant.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Jensen Ackles American actor, Dean Winchester on Supernatural
Spelling variants
- Jenson
- Jansen
- Jenssen
Names with the same feeling
See Jensen from another angle
By style