Tau

♂ Boy

How to Pronounce Tau

Pronounced TOW /ˈtaʊ/Medium

Meaning: Two honest routes: the Greek letter Tau (the nineteenth letter, a mathematical and symbolic mark) and the Tswana word tau, 'lion.' Bold and short.Low

In 30 seconds: A bold one-beat name: Tau is the Greek letter Tau and, in Tswana, 'lion' (said 'TOW'). Short and strong.

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Origin LowGreek, Tswana

MeaningTwo honest routes: the Greek letter Tau (the nineteenth letter, a mathematical and symbolic mark) and the Tswana word tau, 'lion.' Bold and short.

U.S. rank (2018)#11969 ↗ Rising

2018 U.S. births6 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1976

Total births (all-time)≈ 34

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

Tau is the Greek letter Tau and, separately, the Tswana word for 'lion.' The routes are layered, which we note — bold and short, and rare in the U.S. (said 'TOW').

It appears only rarely in the U.S., across Greek and Southern African families. Rare, bold, and short.

Did you know? Tau is both the Greek letter Tau — a mark loaded with symbolic and mathematical meaning — and the Tswana word for 'lion'; two honest routes, which we note (said 'TOW').

Overall data confidence 40%

References — Tau — Greek letter Tau; Tswana 'lion'

Variations

TawTaoTauw

Nicknames

TauT

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Tau…

Leo— a like 'lion' name

Ari— a like short 'lion' name

Rex— a like bold one-beat name

Zeus— a like Greek-rooted name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Tau mean?

Tau is the Greek letter Tau and, in Tswana, the word for 'lion.' The routes are layered, which we note.

How do you pronounce Tau?

It's said TOW /ˈtaʊ/ — one syllable, stress on the last.

Is Tau a boy or girl name?

Tau is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Tau?

Tau is an extremely rare name in the U.S.