Declining since 1985, #1,299 for girls today.
Popularity of Tabitha since 1880
Babies named Tabitha per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 50 |
| 1890s | 73 |
| 1900s | 44 |
| 1910s | 95 |
| 1920s | 83 |
| 1930s | 66 |
| 1940s | 74 |
| 1950s | 150 |
| 1960s | 2,409 |
| 1970s | 11,947 |
| 1980s | 19,578 |
| 1990s | 13,685 |
| 2000s | 6,843 |
| 2010s | 3,163 |
| 2020s | 940 |
Meaning & origin
Tabitha has a long history rooted in the New Testament, where it is the name of a charitable woman known for her good works. In the United States, the name saw its highest popularity in 1978, ranking in the top few hundred names that year. As of 2025, it has become less common, ranked 1299 with a frequency of about 1 in 9399 births. The name has been in steady use since 1880, when it first appeared in Social Security records. Its decline in recent decades, particularly since 1985, reflects broader shifts away from classic biblical names. Tabitha remains most strongly associated with states like Iowa, Missouri, and Utah, where traditional names often retain enduring appeal.
Tabitha derives from the Aramaic word 'tabita,' meaning 'gazelle' (or 'female gazelle'), and appears in the New Testament as the name of a woman raised from the dead by Peter. The Greek translation of her name is Dorcas, also meaning 'gazelle.' It was used among early Christians and occasionally in the English-speaking world from the 17th century, gaining moderate popularity in the United States by the 1970s.
Where Tabitha is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Tabitha” around the world
Where Tabitha lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
Ireland
3
babies in 2025
Sources: CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Tabi, Tabby, Tabs
Variants: Tabatha
Sibling names for Tabitha
Names that share Tabitha's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Hannah, Leah, Miriam, Susanna, Naomi, Beulah, Damaris, Jerusha, Tabatha, Arica, Imogen, Keturah, Mahala, Sabrena, Suzannah, Tabetha, Talitha, Zabrina, Aquilla, Athalia, Athaliah, Huldah, Jemimah, Jessamyn, Letricia, Prescilla, Saloma, Tamitha, Zilpha, Apphia, Betania, Bethania, Cynethia, Hananiah, Katurah, Ketsia, Moranda, Tamula, Endora, Ephrata, Hephzibah, Kebrina, Ketzia, Moria, Ophia, Robecca, Tabathia, Tabithia, Tamantha, Tanara, Tryphena, Zerah
Brothers: Ezra, Noah, Simon, Jesse, Elijah, Baron, Jahziel, Jairus, Lazarus, Zacchaeus, Ananias, Artemus, Barnabas, Cephas, Cephus, Jubal, Nicodemus, Philemon, Phinehas, Tarence, Thaddaeus, Thimothy, Uzziel, Zaccheus, Zebadiah, Zenas, Asahel, Erastus, Gershom, Hezzie, Ithiel, Shadrach, Tabias, Jemuel, Jeramia, Thaddeaus, Zacharius
Names like Tabitha
Names whose popularity has moved with Tabitha's over the last 50 years.
