Declining since 1998, #9,457 for girls today.
Popularity of Tea since 1976
Babies named Tea per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 6 |
| 1980s | 19 |
| 1990s | 798 |
| 2000s | 1,160 |
| 2010s | 403 |
| 2020s | 107 |
Meaning & origin
Tea is a rare and modern name in the United States, first recorded in 1976. It reached its peak popularity in 1998, but has since been in decline. In 2025, it ranked 9457th, with approximately 1 in every 160,727 births given the name. The name's uncertain origins and simple, elegant sound contribute to its appeal, though it remains uncommon. Its usage has been sporadic and not concentrated in any particular state.
The name Tea is of uncertain etymology. It may be a modern coinage, perhaps a variant of Tia, which itself is a short form of names like Dorotea or Thea. Alternatively, it could be inspired by the beverage tea, though this is less common. In some cultures, Tea is a diminutive of names such as Teodora. The name has seen occasional use in English-speaking countries since the late 20th century.
“Tea” around the world
Where Tea lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
85
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Téa, Tia
Sibling names for Tea
Names that share Tea's style, for a brother or sister.
