Tennessee
Girl name · #4880 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Tennessee? In official American birth records, Tennessee has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 27 baby girls were named Tennessee, placing it at #4880 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #4981, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 66,667 girls born in 2025 was named Tennessee.
The 145-year story
Tennessee first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2021, when 39 girls were named Tennessee — good for #3801 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Tennessee per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Tennessee against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Tennessee in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Tennessee is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Tennessee will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Tennessee is most common
State-level data for Tennessee is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Tennessee
Statistically, parents drawn to Tennessee tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Swayzee, Rosabelle, Adelaine, Kynzlee, and Coralee.
SwayzeeRosabelleAdelaineKynzleeCoraleeTreazureRaelynneMaribelle
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Tennessee | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 27 | #4878 |
| 2024 | 20 | #5962 |
| 2023 | 21 | #5752 |
| 2022 | 26 | #5028 |
| 2021 | 39 | #3801 |
| 2020 | 21 | #5667 |
| 2019 | 34 | #4162 |
| 2018 | 30 | #4562 |
| 2017 | 32 | #4384 |
| 2016 | 24 | #5445 |
| 2015 | 27 | #4981 |
| 2014 | 24 | #5456 |
| 2013 | 19 | #6462 |
| 2012 | 16 | #7456 |
| 2011 | 12 | #9150 |
| 2010 | 10 | #10451 |
| 2009 | 7 | #13704 |
| 2008 | 6 | #15405 |
| 2007 | 11 | #10129 |
| 2006 | 10 | #10611 |
| 2005 | 10 | #10128 |
| 2004 | 10 | #9892 |
| 2003 | 8 | #11325 |
| 2002 | 8 | #11108 |
| 2001 | 6 | #13521 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Tennessee?
In official American birth records, the name Tennessee first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Tennessee a popular girl name?
Tennessee ranked #4880 among girls in 2025 with 27 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #4981.
When was the name Tennessee most popular?
Tennessee peaked in 2021, when 39 American girls received the name (ranked #3801 that year). Since 2021 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Tennessee?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 66,667 newborn American girls was named Tennessee. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.