Tennessee
Gender-neutral name · Native American
Meaningfrom Tennessee · English
- US rank
- #4,878
- Syllables
- 3
- Peak
- #556 in 1884
27 babies were named Tennessee in the US in 2025. It has climbed 789 places in five years.
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US births per million girls, 1880–2025
US births per million boys, 1995–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Tennessee you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 59,524 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Tennessee, 27 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Tennessee would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryTennessee has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Tennessees, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1884, when it ranked #556. Today it's #4,878, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowTennessee is 6.0× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 357,143 baby girls; in 2025, about 1 in 59,524.
- TrendTennessee has climbed 789 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #4,878. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- Boy or girlTennessee is given to both boys and girls: 71% of the 38 babies named Tennessee in 2025 were girls. That makes it one of the names that truly works for either.
- MeaningIn English, Tennessee means “from Tennessee”.
About the name Tennessee
Tennessee is a gender-neutral name of Native American origin meaning “from Tennessee”. It has 9 letters and 3 syllables, starting with T and ending in “-see”. US birth records list Tennessee for girls from 1880 to 2025, in 88 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1884, when it ranked #556 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #4,878, with 27 babies. Of the 38 US babies named Tennessee in 2025, 71% were girls and 29% were boys.
Origin:Native American names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 46 | 21,612 girls |
| 1890s | 36 | 27,863 girls |
| 1900s | 31 | 32,227 girls |
| 1910s | 16 | 63,980 girls |
| 1920s | 6.6 | 151,976 girls |
| 1930s | 3.3 | 303,951 girls |
| 1940s | 1.8 | 543,478 girls |
| 1990s | 2.1 | 465,116 girls |
| 2000s | 4.4 | 228,311 girls |
| 2010s | 13 | 76,511 girls |
| 2020s | 16 | 63,224 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.4 | 735,294 boys |
| 2000s | 4.1 | 246,305 boys |
| 2010s | 10 | 97,182 boys |
| 2020s | 9.0 | 111,732 boys |
More Native American names
- Unisex name: Kai · sea
- Girl name: Savannah · treeless plain
- Unisex name: Dakota · friend, ally
- Girl name: Winona · firstborn daughter
- Girl name: Savanna · treeless grassland
- Girl name: Kaydence · rhythm
- Boy name: Mikah · who is like God
- Unisex name: Sora · sky
Questions about the name Tennessee
What does the name Tennessee mean?
Tennessee means “from Tennessee” in English.
What is the origin of the name Tennessee?
Tennessee has Native American roots in our records. Other Native American names include Kai, Savannah, Dakota.
Is Tennessee a boy or girl name?
Both. Tennessee is used for boys and girls: in 2025, 71% of US babies named Tennessee were girls.
How popular is the name Tennessee?
Tennessee ranked #4,878 for US girls in 2025, given to 27 babies. Its best year was 1884 (#556).