Rising since 2005, #7,679 for boys today.
Popularity of Tank since 1916
Babies named Tank per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 |
| 1920s | 0 |
| 1930s | 0 |
| 1940s | 0 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 38 |
| 2010s | 91 |
| 2020s | 39 |
Meaning & origin
Tank is a bold, modern name that directly references the military armored vehicle. First recorded in the U.S. in 1916, the same year tanks debuted in World War I, the name has seen a significant surge in popularity since 2005, peaking in 2013. While still rare, with a ranking of 7,679 in 2025 (one in 170,808 boys), it reflects a cultural trend toward unconventional, strong-syllable names. Its trajectory indicates rising use, particularly in regions where novelty and toughness are valued in naming.
Tank is a modern English name taken directly from the military vehicle, which itself was a code name during World War I for armored combat vehicles. The word 'tank' originally referred to a storage container, but its use as a given name is a bold, contemporary coinage, reflecting a trend of adopting strong, one-syllable nouns as names.
Sibling names for Tank
Names that share Tank's style, for a brother or sister.
