Tish

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Tish

Pronounced TISH /ˈtɪʃ/High

Meaning: Tish is an affectionate short form of Letitia, and sometimes of Patricia. Letitia comes from the Latin laetitia, 'joy, gladness'. Used as a given name mid-century, Tish inherits that cheerful meaning from Letitia.Medium

In 30 seconds: Tish is a snappy pet form of Letitia (or Patricia), from Latin laetitia, 'joy' (said 'TISH').

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Origin MediumEnglish, Latin

MeaningTish is an affectionate short form of Letitia, and sometimes of Patricia. Letitia comes from the Latin laetitia, 'joy, gladness'. Used as a given name mid-century, Tish inherits that cheerful meaning from Letitia.

U.S. rank (1988)#13750 ↘ Falling

1988 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1971

Total births (all-time)≈ 797

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

Tish is a one-syllable pet form of Letitia, drawn from the middle of the name, and occasionally a short form of Patricia. Letitia descends from the Latin laetitia, 'joy, gladness', so Tish carries a bright meaning. It appears as a given name from around 1938 and crested about 1971 at just over sixty girls a year.

Tish stayed a modest, mostly-nickname choice and faded by the late nineteen-eighties. Punchy and one-beat, it reads as a friendly mid-century short form; parents drawn to Letitia's recent stirrings might revive Tish alongside it.

Did you know? Tish is best known as a nickname — think of the warm mother-figure characters who go by it — yet it stood alone on birth certificates too.

Overall data confidence 60%

Behind the Name — Letitia — parent name etymology

Variations

LetitiaTishaTrish

Nicknames

TishLetty

Famous Bearers

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If you like Tish…

Letitia— the formal parent name Tish shortens

Trish— a like one-syllable pet form of a longer name

Patrice— a same-era short girls' name of French flavor

Tisha— an extended form sharing the Tish sound

Explore names like Tish

By themeshort nickname-name joy midcentury

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Tish mean?

Tish is a short form of Letitia (or Patricia), from the Latin laetitia, meaning 'joy, gladness'.

How do you pronounce Tish?

It's said TISH /ˈtɪʃ/ — one syllable.

Is Tish a boy or girl name?

Tish is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Tish?

Tish was a modest mid-century pet form that crested in the early nineteen-seventies and has been uncommon since.