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Home › Baby Names Directory › Tennessee

Tennessee

♀ Girl

Pronounced ten-ə-SEE /ˌtɛn.əˈsi/Medium

Meaning: From the U.S. state Tennessee — named for the Cherokee village/river Tanasi; the original meaning is uncertain/lostLow

In 30 seconds: Of Tanasi: Tennessee is a place-name — from the Cherokee village Tanasi. Bold, lyrical, and warm (said 'ten-ə-SEE').
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Origin LowCherokee
MeaningFrom the U.S. state Tennessee — named for the Cherokee village/river Tanasi; the original meaning is uncertain/lost
U.S. rank (2025)#4974 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births27 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2021
Total births (all-time)≈ 986

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202118802025

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

Tennessee comes from the U.S. state — named for the Cherokee village and river Tanasi (on the Little Tennessee River); the original meaning is uncertain and likely lost to history (which we note honestly). A bold, lyrical, modern place-name (the playwright Tennessee Williams; said 'ten-ə-SEE'; nickname Tenny).

It registers thinly in records. Rare, of-Tanasi at the root (meaning uncertain), and lyrical.

Did you know? Tennessee, the U.S. state, is named for the Cherokee village and river Tanasi — whose original meaning is uncertain and likely lost — a bold, lyrical, modern place-name (the playwright Tennessee Williams; said 'ten-ə-SEE').
Overall data confidence 50%
References — Tennessee — place-name; meaning uncertain

Variations

TenneseeTennessey

Nicknames

Tenny

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Tennessee…

Savannah— a companion Southern place-name girls' name
Carolina— another place-name girls' name
Georgia— another US-state girls' name
Ayana— a fellow Cherokee choice
Ayanna— shares Tennessee's Cherokee roots

Explore names like Tennessee

By themeuncertainplace-namecherokee
By meaningSea / Water

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Tennessee mean?

Tennessee is named for the Cherokee village Tanasi; its original meaning is uncertain, which we note.

How do you pronounce Tennessee?

It's said ten-ə-SEE /ˌtɛn.əˈsi/ — three syllables, stress on the last.

Is Tennessee a boy or girl name?

Tennessee is used for both sexes; this page covers its use as a girl's name.

How popular is Tennessee?

Tennessee is a rare name in the U.S.

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