Given name & surname
Tavis
“a twin”·“from the hillside”
Tavis is a variant of Tavish. Interpretations include “a twin” and “from the hillside”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Tavis is a variant of Tavish. Interpretations include “a twin” and “from the hillside”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Tavis is a variant of Tavish. Tavish has been associated with Scottish and Irish naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1963. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Tavis through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,216
- 2,210 boys · 6 girls
- Most popular year
- 1977
- 79 babies
- 2025
- 9
- #8,842 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −30%
- Easing
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 9 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 8,842 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 29.6% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 79 in 1999. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,893 as a first name in 2020; 536 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Tavis’s family of names
Tavis has a related form in Tavish. In Greek usage, Tavis as a surname is a transliteration of Τάβης.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Tavis
- Tavis SmileyTalk show host, author, entrepreneur, advocate, philanthropistborn 1964
- Tavis KnoyleWelsh rugby union playerborn 1990
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Tavis, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Tavares
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>99% boys
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“ever the ruler”
>99% boys
Torrence
“from the little hills”
89% boys · 11% girls
Arash
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>99% boys
Toma
Toma is a masculine given name from English. It is used in Italian, Lithuanian, and Tokelauan.
>99% boys
Tito
“of the giants” · “a great defender”
>99% boys
Tyrel
“one who is stubborn” · “a powerful man”
>99% boys
Tai
“a very big woman” · “one who is talented and prosperous”
80% boys · 20% girls