The name "Aurelio Zen" in Michael Dibdin’s detective series might sound like a deliberate reference to Zen Buddhism, but it’s largely coincidental — or at least, not central to the character or the books thematically.
Here’s the breakdown:

1. Name Origin:

Dibdin never explicitly connects Aurelio Zen to Zen Buddhism in a thematic or philosophical way.
The surname "Zen" is an actual, if rare, Italian surname — particularly found in Venice, where the character is originally from. It's derived from the Venetian dialect and has no Buddhist connotation in Italian culture.

2. Character Personality:

Aurelio Zen is not especially “Zen” in the modern or Buddhist sense — he’s cynical, world-weary, and often entangled in bureaucratic messes, corruption, and moral ambiguity.
If anything, the series is known for its dark humor, complex plots, and realistic portrayal of Italian politics and institutions, rather than any meditative or minimalist approach.

3. Possible Irony or Subtle Humor:

Some readers think Dibdin chose the name intentionally to create a subtle ironic contrast: Zen, the detective, is constantly dealing with chaos and corruption — the opposite of Zen calm.
Dibdin did have a wry sense of humor, so it's possible he appreciated the juxtaposition, but he never framed it explicitly as a spiritual or philosophical choice.

Summary:

While the name "Zen" may spark associations with Zen Buddhism, the Aurelio Zen series doesn't explore Buddhist themes. It’s more grounded in gritty realism, political satire, and the quirks of Italian life and justice. Any link to Zen philosophy is accidental or ironic at best.

(Dibdin lived and worked in Italy: International House, Perugia, Italy, English teacher, 1980-82; University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy, language assistant, 1982-84.)

Aurelio Zen series

Ratking (1988) PDF
Vendetta (1990) PDF
Cabal (1992) PDF
Dead Lagoon (1994) PDF
Cosi Fan Tutti (1996) PDF
A Long Finish (1998) PDF
Blood Rain (1999) PDF
And Then You Die (2002) PDF
Medusa (2003) PDF
Back to Bologna (2005) PDF
End Games (2007) PDF

Zen (TV series)

Zen is a British television series produced by Left Bank Pictures for the BBC, co-produced with WGBH Boston for its Masterpiece anthology series, Mediaset and ZDF. It stars Rufus Sewell and Caterina Murino and is based on the Aurelio Zen detective novels by Michael Dibdin. The series was filmed on location in Italy, but the dialogue is in English. The series, which comprises three 90-minute films, was broadcast in the United Kingdom on Sunday evenings from 2 January 2011 on BBC One. The three films were based on the books Vendetta (1990), Cabal (1992) and Ratking (1988). The series was cancelled by BBC One in February 2011; BBC One controller Danny Cohen later said there were already enough male crime-fighters on TV.

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original release date	UK viewers (millions)
1	"Vendetta"	John Alexander	Simon Burke	2 January 2011	6.24
Detective Zen is sent to a remote village to re-investigate a murder, which may spark a political scandal. Zen is under pressure from the politicians and the Chief of Police, but he would rather be spending time with Tania, the Chief's beautiful assistant. Meanwhile, a gangster is after Zen, seeking revenge.
2	"Cabal"	Christopher Menaul	Simon Burke	9 January 2011	5.64
The death of a famous aristocrat, Umberto Ruspanti, leads Detective Zen into the shadowy world of the Cabal—an organisation more powerful and secret than the Mafia. The Ministry want a quick verdict of suicide, but Zen's not so sure. Meanwhile, things are looking up with Tania.
3	"Ratking"	Jon Jones	Peter Berry & Simon Burke	16 January 2011	5.21
Detective Zen works against the clock to recover the kidnapped Ruggerio Miletti, a wealthy industrialist with political ties. The involvement of the manipulative family and a beautiful grieving widow complicate matters. Meanwhile Tania's husband does everything he can to get rid of Zen.

PDF: Titkos társaság
Eredeti címe: Cabal
Michael Dibdin; [ford. Szűr-Szabó Katalin]
Budapest: Magyar Könyvklub, 2000, 258 p.