Tainá

♀ Girl

Tainá Pronunciation

Tainá is pronounced tah-ee-NAH

Meaning: star, morning star

In 30 seconds: Tainá is an Old Tupi name meaning 'star' or 'morning star,' widely used in Brazil as a feminine given name and recognized in Brazilian Indigenous naming tradition.

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Origin Tupi

Meaningstar, morning star

U.S. rank (2024)#7200 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births16 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2001

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,737

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

History & Origin

Tainá derives from Old Tupi (the classical language of the coastal Tupi people of Brazil) and means 'star' or 'morning star.' Old Tupi was the language spoken by the Tupi people who inhabited coastal Brazil and was documented in early colonial-era grammars. The name is widely used across Brazil as a feminine given name and is recognized in ethnohistorical sources of Tupi naming practice. Its popularity grew significantly with the 2001 Brazilian animated film Tainá – Uma Aventura na Amazônia, in which the heroine is an Amazonian Indigenous girl. The meaning of 'star' — a source of light and navigation — gives the name a universal resonance.

Did you know? Tainá – Uma Aventura na Amazônia (2001) was a landmark Brazilian animated film featuring a girl named Tainá, bringing the Old Tupi name to international children's audiences.

BabyCenter — Brazilian names — Tainá means "star" or "morning star" in Tupi. Listed among Brazilian Indigenous given names.Wikipedia — Tupi language — Old Tupi (Classical Tupi): language of the Tupi people who inhabited coastal Brazil; source of many Brazilian place and personal names.

If you like Tainá…

Guaraci— Old Tupi name meaning sun, same language and celestial naming tradition

Araci— Tupi name meaning origin of the day or dawn, same morning-light theme

Paraguaçu— Old Tupi historical name, same Brazilian Tupi naming tradition

Cauã— Old Tupi name widely used in Brazil, same coastal Tupi tradition

→ See all names like Tainá

Browse the whole category: All Tupi names → · All origins →

Frequently Asked

How do you pronounce Tainá?

Tainá is pronounced tah-ee-NAH. Press play above to hear Tainá said aloud.

How do you say Tainá?

Tainá is said tah-ee-NAH. Press play above to hear Tainá said aloud.

What does Tainá mean?

Tainá means 'star' or 'morning star' in Old Tupi (Classical Tupi), the language of the coastal Tupi people of Brazil. It is one of the most widely used Indigenous names in Brazil.

Is Tainá widely used in Brazil?

Yes. Tainá is one of Brazil's most recognized feminine Indigenous names. Its popularity spread further with the 2001 animated film Tainá – Uma Aventura na Amazônia.

What language is Tainá from?

Tainá comes from Old Tupi (Classical Tupi), the Tupian language spoken by the coastal Tupi people of Brazil and documented in early colonial grammars.