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Home › Baby Names Directory › Tiller

Tiller

♂ Boy

Pronounced TIL-ur /ˈtɪl.əɹ/High

Meaning: Tiller is an English occupational surname for a farmer — one who tills the ground — from Old English tilian, 'to cultivate.' The same word names the lever used to steer a boat's rudder, a second sense that gives the name a nautical flavour.Medium

In 30 seconds: A working surname with soil under its nails: Tiller is one who tills the ground (said 'TIL-ur'). It is also a boat's steering handle.
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningTiller is an English occupational surname for a farmer — one who tills the ground — from Old English tilian, 'to cultivate.' The same word names the lever used to steer a boat's rudder, a second sense that gives the name a nautical flavour.
U.S. rank (2024)#13999 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2020
Total births (all-time)≈ 53

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202320162024

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

Tiller is an English occupational surname from tilian, 'to cultivate' — the man who worked the fields. It joins the modern wave of trade surnames used as first names, alongside Miller, Cooper and Fletcher. The nautical tiller, the lever that turns a rudder, keeps the name in everyday English too (said 'TIL-ur').

It appears only rarely for boys in the U.S. Rare, surname-style, and grounded.

Did you know? Tiller pulls double duty — the farmer who works the earth and the wooden arm that steers a sailboat. Both senses go back to hands on a handle, which suits a name with a practical streak (said 'TIL-ur').
Overall data confidence 50%
References — Tiller — English occupational surname from tilian 'to cultivate'; nautical sense noted

Variations

TilllerTyler

Nicknames

TillTy

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Tiller…

Miller— a same occupational surname name
Cooper— a like trade-name classic
Fletcher— a matching -er surname pick
Sawyer— a familiar working-surname choice

Explore names like Tiller

By themeenglishsurnameoccupationalgrounded

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Tiller mean?

Tiller is an English occupational surname meaning 'one who tills the soil,' a farmer; it also names the handle that steers a boat.

How do you pronounce Tiller?

It's said TIL-ur /ˈtɪl.əɹ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Tiller a boy or girl name?

Here Tiller is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Tiller?

Tiller is a very rare name for boys in the U.S.

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