Holding steady, #11,932 for girls today.
Popularity of Tani since 1942
Babies named Tani per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 47 |
| 1950s | 130 |
| 1960s | 350 |
| 1970s | 141 |
| 1980s | 128 |
| 1990s | 107 |
| 2000s | 54 |
| 2010s | 30 |
| 2020s | 17 |
Meaning & origin
Tani is a name of obscure origins that has been in use in the United States since at least 1942. It is quite rare, with a current rank of 11,932 (2025) and an incidence of about 1 in 229,610 births. Its peak popularity occurred in 1963, but it has remained relatively stable in usage, never breaking into common use. The name may be a diminutive of Tania or a Japanese surname-turned-given-name. Its rarity makes it a distinctive choice for parents seeking an uncommon name without a strong cultural or historical baggage.
Tani has multiple possible origins. In English-speaking contexts, it is often a diminutive or variant of names such as Tania (from Tatiana) or Tana. Alternatively, in Japanese, Tani (谷) means 'valley' and is used as a surname or, occasionally, a given name. Given its sporadic use in recorded U.S. data since 1942, it may also be a modern coinage combining fashionable sounds.
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Tani
Names that share Tani's style, for a brother or sister.
