Tad

♂ Boy

Pronounced TAD /ˈtæd/High

Meaning: A pet form of Thaddeus — of uncertain origin, variously read 'courageous heart' and 'praise' (Aramaic); also linked to the Irish Tadhg ('poet'); routes layeredLow

In 30 seconds: Courageous heart; praise: Tad is a pet form of Thaddeus. Crisp, classic, and homey.

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Origin LowAramaic, Greek

MeaningA pet form of Thaddeus — of uncertain origin, variously read 'courageous heart' and 'praise' (Aramaic); also linked to the Irish Tadhg ('poet'); routes layered

U.S. rank (2024)#7657 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births11 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1966

Total births (all-time)≈ 6,918

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Tad is a pet form of Thaddeus — of uncertain origin, variously read 'courageous heart' and 'praise' (Aramaic; one of the Twelve Apostles); it is also linked to the Irish Tadhg ('poet'; routes layered, which we note). A crisp, homey name (said 'TAD').

In the U.S. it appears as a nickname-name. Rare, courageous-heart at the root, and homey.

Did you know? Thaddeus is variously read 'courageous heart' and 'praise' (Aramaic; an apostle) — Tad is a homey pet form (also linked to the Irish Tadhg), crisp and classic (the routes are layered, which we note; said 'TAD').

Overall data confidence 40%

References — Thaddeus — routes layered

Variations

ThaddeusTaddTadeo

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Tad…

Thaddeus— the name it shortens

Tadeo— a fellow Thaddeus-rooted boys' name

Chad— a sound-neighbor one-syllable boys' name

Brad— another one-syllable boys' name

Explore names like Tad

By themeuncertain greek nickname-name aramaic

By meaningBrave / Courage

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Tad mean?

Tad is a pet form of Thaddeus — variously 'courageous heart' and 'praise'; the routes are layered.

How do you pronounce Tad?

It's said TAD /ˈtæd/ — one syllable.

Is Tad a boy or girl name?

Tad is a boy's name.

How popular is Tad?

Tad is a rare name in the U.S.