Tennessee
Tennessee: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˌtɛnəˈsiː/ · /ˌtɪnəˈsiː/
Meaning and origin of Tennessee
- A male given name.
- A female given name.
Etymology
From Cherokee ᏔᎾᏏ (tanasi), believed to mean “winding river”.
How popular is Tennessee?
Since 1880, 986 girls and 381 boys in the U.S. have been named Tennessee (72% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #579 in 1884. Its highest rank for boys was #3868 in 2015. In 2025, 38 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Tennessee
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
Sibling name ideas for Tennessee
Names that peaked around the same time as Tennessee and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Tennessee FAQ
What does the name Tennessee mean?
A male given name. A female given name. From Cherokee ᏔᎾᏏ (tanasi), believed to mean “winding river”.
How popular is the name Tennessee?
Since 1880, 986 girls and 381 boys in the U.S. have been named Tennessee (72% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #579 in 1884. Its highest rank for boys was #3868 in 2015. In 2025, 38 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Tennessee a boy or girl name?
Tennessee is used for both boys and girls in the U.S. (986 girls and 381 boys since 1880).
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.