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Home › Baby Names Directory › Tarzan

Tarzan

♂ Boy

Pronounced TAR-zan /ˈtɑr.zæn/High

Meaning: A name invented by Edgar Rice Burroughs for his 1912 novel Tarzan of the Apes, glossed within the books as 'white skin' in the fictional ape language. Everyone who hears it thinks of the character, and we note that plainly.Low

In 30 seconds: A literary invention: Tarzan is the jungle hero of Edgar Rice Burroughs (said 'TAR-zan'). The character comes with the name — we note that.
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningA name invented by Edgar Rice Burroughs for his 1912 novel Tarzan of the Apes, glossed within the books as 'white skin' in the fictional ape language. Everyone who hears it thinks of the character, and we note that plainly.
U.S. rank (2024)#13965 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2007
Total births (all-time)≈ 15

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202420072024

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

Tarzan was coined by Edgar Rice Burroughs for Tarzan of the Apes in 1912, and glossed in the novels as 'white skin' in the invented language of the apes who raise him. A century of books, films and cartoons has made the character unmistakable — anyone hearing the name will picture him, and we note that plainly rather than pretend otherwise. Bold, adventurous, and inescapably literary (said 'TAR-zan').

It appears only rarely for boys in the U.S. Rare, literary, and instantly recognizable.

Did you know? Burroughs invented Tarzan whole, and within the books the word means 'white skin' in the apes' language. The character is inseparable from the name, which we note plainly for families weighing it (said 'TAR-zan').
Overall data confidence 50%
References — Tarzan — Invented by Edgar Rice Burroughs, 1912; fictional jungle hero

Variations

Tarzen

Nicknames

TarZan

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Tarzan…

Atlas— a like larger-than-life hero name
Maverick— a like bold adventurous pick
Hercules— another legendary strongman name
Phoenix— a like mythic word-name

Explore names like Tarzan

By themeliterarypop-cultureinvented
By meaningSnow / Winter

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Tarzan mean?

Tarzan was invented by Edgar Rice Burroughs and glossed in his novels as 'white skin' in the fictional ape language. It is inseparable from the character.

How do you pronounce Tarzan?

It's said TAR-zan /ˈtɑr.zæn/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Tarzan a boy or girl name?

Tarzan is a boy's name.

How popular is Tarzan?

Tarzan is a rare name for boys in the U.S.

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