Holding steady.
Popularity of Tellis since 1919
Babies named Tellis per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 |
| 1920s | 27 |
| 1930s | 10 |
| 1940s | 24 |
| 1950s | 10 |
| 1960s | 12 |
| 1970s | 119 |
| 1980s | 29 |
| 1990s | 25 |
| 2000s | 24 |
| 2010s | 10 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Tellis is a rare American given name that first appeared in the Social Security records in 1919. Its usage never reached high levels, but it achieved a modest peak in 1975, the year it was most frequently recorded. The name's trajectory since then has been stable but very low in frequency. Tellis may have originated as a variant of Dallas or as a surname-turned-first-name, but its exact derivation remains unclear. Parents drawn to short, consonant-heavy names with a vintage feel might consider it, though it remains far outside the mainstream.
The name Tellis is most likely a modern coinage, possibly derived from the surname Tellis (itself of uncertain origin) or a variation of the place name Dallas, influenced by the popular -is ending found in names like Ellis or Willis. Its use as a given name has been sporadic in the United States since the early 20th century, peaking modestly in the 1970s.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Tel
Variants: Tellus
Sibling names for Tellis
Names that share Tellis's style, for a brother or sister.
