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Home › Baby Names Directory › Tyler

Tyler

♂ Boy

Pronounced TY-ler /ˈtaɪ.lər/High

Meaning: Tile maker, tiler — from Old French tieulier (tile maker), an occupational surnameHigh

In 30 seconds: From the Old French for 'tile maker,' Tyler is an occupational surname-name that dominated the U.S. top 10 boys' names in the 1990s and carried presidential prestige through John Tyler.
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Origin HighOld French, Old English
MeaningTile maker, tiler — from Old French tieulier (tile maker), an occupational surname
U.S. rank (2025)#220 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births1,633 boys (0.10% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1994
Total births (all-time)≈ 603,922

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199418802025

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

Tyler is an English occupational surname from Old French tieulier (tile maker, one who makes or lays tiles), which entered English after the Norman Conquest. The name Wat Tyler (d. 1381) was the leader of the English Peasants' Revolt of 1381. President John Tyler (1790–1862) gave the name presidential association.

Tyler was one of the defining boys' names of the 1990s in the United States, entering the top 10 and remaining there for most of the decade. Its occupational surname origin, two-syllable punch, and cool sound made it enormously popular. Though it has declined from its peak, Tyler remains a fixture of the charts among boys' names.

Did you know? John Tyler (1790–1862) was the 10th President of the United States and the first to assume the presidency upon the death of a predecessor. He was nicknamed 'His Accidency' by critics — but his surname became one of the most popular boys' names a century later.

Variations

TylarTiler

Nicknames

Ty

Famous Bearers

  • ★John Tyler (1790–1862)
    10th President of the United States, first to assume the presidency on the death of a predecessor.

If you like Tyler…

Hunter— occupational surname-name with the same sporty American feel
Tucker— occupational surname-name with the same two-syllable, two-consonant energy
River— a fellow Old French choice
Granger— echoes that soft -er sound
Alder— shares the -er ending

Frequently Asked

What does the name Tyler mean?

Tyler comes from the Old French tieulier meaning 'tile maker' — an occupational surname that became a given name.

How do you pronounce Tyler?

Tyler is pronounced TY-ler /ˈtaɪ.lər/ — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Tyler a boy or girl name?

Tyler is used primarily as a boys' name, though it is occasionally used for girls.

How popular is Tyler?

Tyler was a U.S. top-10 boys' name through most of the 1990s and remains in the top 100 today.

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