Given name & surname
Tip
“one of twins”·“twin”
Tip is a form of Thomas. The original Aramaic byname means “twin.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In American use, Tip carries the interpretation “one of twins.” Tip is a form of Thomas. The original Aramaic byname means “twin.”
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is American.
How it developed
Tip is used as a form of Thomas. Tip is a form of Thomas. The shared background comes through Thomas: The apostle is called Thomas and also Didymus in the New Testament. Didymus reflects the Greek word for “twin,” matching the meaning of the Aramaic byname behind Thomas.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1887. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Tip is a form of Thomas. The history of Thomas gives this family its wider story. Thomas was the name of one of Jesus’s twelve apostles, remembered in Christian tradition for his doubts and later reassurance. That story helped establish the name across Christian naming traditions.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Tip through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 176
- 176 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1923
- 8 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for boys is 5 in 1965. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 218 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Tip’s family of names
In Dutch usage, Tip as a surname shares a linguistic root with the German form ZIPF. Tip is a form of Thomas. Tip has a related form in Tippi.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 8
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
Similar names
If you love Tip, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Efton
“one who is fertile; productive” · “fruitful”
>99% boys
Gomer
“complete” · “of the good fight”
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Moe
“a dark-skinned man”
93% boys · 7% girls
Mosie
>99% boys
Heth
“terror” · “dread”
90% boys · 10% girls
El
“much debated but ultimately unclear”
87% boys · 13% girls
Peppino
“God will add”
>99% boys
Ziba
“alliance” · “collective”
>99% boys