Holding steady.
Popularity of Tempie since 1880
Babies named Tempie per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1918, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Tempie's real moment was 1884.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 104 |
| 1890s | 172 |
| 1900s | 168 |
| 1910s | 287 |
| 1920s | 268 |
| 1930s | 197 |
| 1940s | 159 |
| 1950s | 153 |
| 1960s | 95 |
| 1970s | 54 |
| 1980s | 13 |
| 1990s | 6 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 5 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Tempie is an uncommon name that saw its peak usage in the 1880s, with the highest number of recorded births in 1884. Since then, the name has remained consistently rare, reflecting a stable trajectory typical of many 19th-century diminutives. Although the overall count is low, the name appeared in records as early as 1880. While it is not currently in wide use, Tempie represents a distinct piece of American naming history, often associated with the southern United States. Its exact origins are debated among name scholars, but it is most frequently considered a variant of the virtue name Temperance, fitting a pattern of clipped forms that once enjoyed casual popularity.
Tempie first appeared in the late 19th century, primarily in the southern United States. It is most likely a diminutive of Temperance (the Puritan virtue name) or Tempest (referring to a storm), though it may also be a pet form of names like Tempestt or simply a phonetic coinage. The name saw modest use in the 1880s and declined by the early 20th century.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Tem, Temi
Variants: Tempey, Tempee
Sibling names for Tempie
Names that share Tempie's style, for a brother or sister.
