Holding steady.
Popularity of Tennis since 1913
Babies named Tennis per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 27 |
| 1920s | 55 |
| 1930s | 42 |
| 1940s | 17 |
| 1950s | 44 |
| 1960s | 17 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Tennis is an exceedingly rare given name in the United States, with its first recorded use in 1913. The name has never entered the top 1000; its peak year was 1926, when a handful of parents chose the name. Since then, the name's trajectory has remained stable, appearing only occasionally. The name is directly borrowed from the sport, which itself derives from the Anglo-Norman French term 'tenez' (hold, receive), used as a call in the game. As a given name, Tennis represents a modern, novelty coinage without deep historical or linguistic roots. There are no recorded top states for this name, indicating its use has been scattered across the country.
Tennis is a rare given name taken directly from the sport, which was first recorded as a personal name in the United States in 1913. The sport's name comes from the Anglo-Norman French term 'tenez' meaning 'hold, receive,' called out by the server. Its use as a name is a modern, novelty coinage, likely inspired by a family or cultural association with the game.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ten, Niss
Sibling names for Tennis
Names that share Tennis's style, for a brother or sister.
