Tane

♂ Boy

Pronounced TAH-neh /ˈtɑ.nɛ/Medium

Meaning: From the Maori Tane, 'man; male'; the Maori god of forests, birds, and living things, who separated the sky-father and earth-mother; we note the godLow

In 30 seconds: Man; male: Tane is the Maori god of forests and birds. Crisp, classic, and warm (said 'TAH-neh'). We note the god.

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Origin LowPolynesian, Maori

MeaningFrom the Maori Tane, 'man; male'; the Maori god of forests, birds, and living things, who separated the sky-father and earth-mother; we note the god

U.S. rank (2012)#13977 ↘ Falling

2012 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1999

Total births (all-time)≈ 17

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

Tane comes from the Maori Tane, 'man; male'; the Maori god of forests and birds (we note the god). A crisp, classic name (said 'TAH-neh').

In the U.S. it appears very rarely as a mythology name. Rare, the-forest-god at the root, and crisp.

Did you know? Tane is 'man; male' in Maori — the god of forests, birds, and living things, who pushed apart the sky-father and earth-mother to bring light — a crisp, storied name (we note the god; said 'TAH-neh').

Overall data confidence 48%

References — Tane — Polynesian mythology; god

Variations

Tane-mahutaKane

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Tane…

Papa— his mother, the earth

Maui— a companion Polynesian figure

Kane— his Hawaiian counterpart

Hina— a kin Polynesian deity

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Tane mean?

Tane is Maori for 'man; male'; the god of forests, birds, and living things. We note the god.

How do you pronounce Tane?

It's said TAH-neh /ˈtɑ.nɛ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Tane a boy or girl name?

Tane is a boy's name.

How popular is Tane?

Tane is a very rare name in the U.S.