Tennessee Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name 'Tennessee' originates from a Native American term meaning 'the place where we gather.' It evolved from the Yuchi language through Cherokee influences into English. The name symbolizes a place of community and gathering. It does not have biblical relevance but has significant historical and cultural importance, particularly in music and heritage.
The name Tennessee is most popular in Utah, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Alpha generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Tennessee has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Tennessee' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 15579th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 8253rd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 4820th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2258th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 4542nd out of 9204 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 22630th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 10514th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 5023rd out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Tennessee' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Tennessee"
Pronunciation
/ˌtɛnəˈsi/
Origin
Native American
Etymology
The name 'Tennessee' is derived from the Yuchi word 'tana-see,' which means 'the place where we gather.' The term originally referred to a Cherokee village located near the modern-day site of the city of Knoxville.
Meaning
the place where we gather
Language Evolution
Yuchi: tana-see, Cherokee: tennessee, English: Tennessee
Historical Usage
Tennessee gained popularity as a state name when it was admitted to the Union in 1796. The name was used to refer to the region even earlier by European settlers who adopted it from the Native American term.
Variants & Derivatives
Tenn, Tennessean
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Tennessee is perceived as a culturally rich state known for its music heritage, particularly in country, blues, and rock genres. It is also recognized for its beautiful landscapes and historical significance.
Famous People
Andrew Jackson, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Nashville's musical artists
Explore More Tennessee Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Tennessee"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Tennessee"
"Tennessee" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 15579th of 16616 | 6 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 8253rd of 24088 | 122 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 4820th of 23106 | 241 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 2258th of 9107 | 268 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 4542nd of 9204 | 70 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 22630th of 27321 | 11 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 10514th of 35406 | 146 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 5023rd of 30306 | 317 |
Regional Popularity of "Tennessee" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - |
67.40% 5030th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
75.30% 3000th/3984 |
- | - |
63.67% 3996th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Tennessee" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - |
65.11% 4442nd/6822 |
75.94% 4766th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Tennessee"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Tennessee" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.