Given name & surname
Tex
“man from Texas”
Tex is used as a given name and a surname. One American interpretation is “man from Texas.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One American interpretation is “man from Texas.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is American.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1890. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Tex through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,131
- 2,120 boys · 11 girls
- Most popular year
- 1940
- 67 babies
- 2025
- 33
- #3,502 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +79%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 33 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 3,502 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 78.7% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 67 in 1940. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (10). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,172 as a first name in 2020; 184 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.
Tex’s family of names
Tex has a related form in Texas. Tex has a related form in Texan. Tex has a related form in Texen.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
See also 3
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Tex
- Tex Gibbonsbasketball player (1907–1984)
- Tex WinterAmerican basketball coach (1922–2018)
- Tex WilliamsAmerican musician (1917–1985)
- Tex RickardAmerican sports promoter (1870–1929)
- Tex FletcherAmerican musician (1909–1987)1910–1987
- Tex MortonNew Zealand country music singer1916–1983
- Tex TerryAmerican actor (1902-1985)
- Tex HamerAmerican football player (1901–1981)
- Tex SchrammAmerican sports businessman (1920–2003)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Tex, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Ned
“a wealthy protector”
>99% boys
Jerald
“one who rules with the spear”
>99% boys
Talmadge
“one who loves nature”
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Prentice
“a student; an apprentice”
95% boys · 5% girls
Deotis
“a learned man; a scholar”
>99% boys
Donis
Donis is used as a given name and a surname. Donis is connected with Adonis.
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Bill
“the determined protector” · “will”
>99% boys
Alton
“from the old town”
>99% boys