Declining since 2004, #2,516 for boys today.
Popularity of Tai since 1922
Babies named Tai per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 0 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0 | 0 |
| 1940s | 0 | 0 |
| 1950s | 7 | 0 |
| 1960s | 11 | 12 |
| 1970s | 174 | 202 |
| 1980s | 666 | 356 |
| 1990s | 375 | 516 |
| 2000s | 351 | 1,053 |
| 2010s | 151 | 639 |
| 2020s | 80 | 334 |
Meaning & origin
Tai is a short, internationally versatile name first recorded in the United States in 1922. It reached its peak rank of 2516 in 2004, with about 1 in 32,228 newborns receiving the name that year, but has since been on a downward trajectory. The name is most popular in states like Florida, Texas, and California, reflecting its multicultural appeal. Despite its decline, Tai remains a concise choice with roots spanning Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese traditions.
Tai is a short, versatile name found across several East Asian languages. In Chinese, it can be a transliteration of characters like 泰 (tài, 'peaceful, great') or 太 (tài, 'very, too'). In Japanese, it may derive from 太 (tai, 'thick, big') or be a short form of names like Taisuke. In Vietnamese, it often relates to 蔡 (Thái, a surname) or other elements. The name gained some international use in the late 20th century, particularly after the 1990s.
Where Tai is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Tai” around the world
Where Tai lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
New Zealand
21
babies in 2025
Sources: NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand).
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Tai
Names that share Tai's style, for a brother or sister.
