Declining since 1985, #14,942 for girls today.
Popularity of Tana since 1924
Babies named Tana per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1962, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Tana's real moment was 1979.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1920s | 25 |
| 1930s | 28 |
| 1940s | 880 |
| 1950s | 1,480 |
| 1960s | 2,063 |
| 1970s | 1,730 |
| 1980s | 1,481 |
| 1990s | 885 |
| 2000s | 464 |
| 2010s | 177 |
| 2020s | 61 |
Meaning & origin
Tana is a rarely used American name that first appeared on the U.S. Social Security list in 1924. It reached its highest popularity in 1979, but has since declined, following a falling trajectory from 1985 onward. As of the latest data (2024), approximately 1 in every 321,453 newborns is named Tana, placing it at rank 14,942. While never common, Tana has maintained a steady if sparse presence for a century. Its brevity and vowel-heavy sound align with modern trends, but its obscurity means it remains a distinctive choice. The name has no strong ties to any particular state or region.
Tana emerged as a given name in the United States in the early 20th century. It is likely a shortened form of the place name Montana, which means 'mountainous' in Spanish, or a phonetic variant of Tania, a Russian diminutive of Tatiana. Its usage has remained rare but consistent, with occasional peaks.
Where Tana 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.
“Tana” around the world
Where Tana lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Tanna
Sibling names for Tana
Names that share Tana's style, for a brother or sister.
