Given name & surname
Tennessee
“from the state of Tennessee”
Tennessee is used as a given name and a surname. One Native American interpretation is “from the state of Tennessee.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Native American interpretation is “from the state of Tennessee.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Native American.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Tennessee through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,367
- 381 boys · 986 girls
- Most popular year
- 2017
- 60 babies
- 2025
- 38
- #4,974 for girls · #7,630 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −18%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 27 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 4,974 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 5.7% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 11 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Florida had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (5). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 763 as a first name in 2020; 431 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.
Tennessee’s family of names
Tennessee has a related form in Tenese. Tennessee has a related form in Tenesee. Tennessee has a related form in Tenessee.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Tennessee
- Tennessee WilliamsAmerican playwright (1911–1983)
- Tennessee ClaflinAmerican suffragist (1844-1923)
- Tennessee Thomasdrummerborn 1984
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Tennessee, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Dakota
“a friend to all”
44% boys · 56% girls
Indiana
Indiana is used as a given name. One English interpretation is “from the land of the Indians; from the state of Indiana.”
43% boys · 57% girls
Denver
“from the green valley”
62% boys · 38% girls
Kansas
Kansas is used as a given name and a surname. One Native American interpretation is “of the south wind people; from the state of Kansas.”
18% boys · 82% girls
Montana
Montana is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “woman of the mountains; from the state of Montana” (Latin) and “from the mountainous region; from the state of Montana” (Spanish). These may reflect different naming traditions.
39% boys · 61% girls
Makani
“of the wind”
60% boys · 40% girls
Sakari
“a sweet girl”
48% boys · 52% girls
Kona
“a girly woman”
58% boys · 42% girls