Tad
A diminutive of the male given name Thaddeus or Thaddaeus.
Every Tad since 1912 — 6,929 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Tad
Tad is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #7,619 in 2025 with 11 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1912, 6,929 American babies have been named Tad. Its peak came in 1966, when 265 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1960s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Tad stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Tad year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | #7,619 |
| 2024 | 11 | #7,698 |
| 2023 | 14 | #6,467 |
| 2022 | 11 | #7,701 |
| 2021 | 13 | #6,631 |
| 2020 | 10 | #7,985 |
| 2019 | 17 | #5,530 |
| 2018 | 17 | #5,513 |
| 2017 | 11 | #7,481 |
| 2016 | 18 | #5,290 |
| 2015 | 15 | #5,956 |
| 2014 | 20 | #4,846 |
| 2013 | 19 | #4,955 |
| 2012 | 21 | #4,660 |
| 2011 | 23 | #4,337 |
| 2010 | 9 | #8,706 |
| 2009 | 25 | #4,147 |
| 2008 | 22 | #4,519 |
| 2007 | 31 | #3,500 |
| 2006 | 36 | #3,077 |
| 2005 | 37 | #2,893 |
| 2004 | 35 | #2,947 |
| 2003 | 31 | #3,105 |
| 2002 | 38 | #2,596 |
| 2001 | 32 | #2,920 |
| 2000 | 31 | #2,912 |
| 1995 | 66 | #1,474 |
| 1990 | 92 | #1,128 |
| 1985 | 128 | #787 |
| 1980 | 100 | #899 |
| 1975 | 169 | #621 |
| 1970 | 197 | #576 |
| 1965 | 223 | #510 |
| 1960 | 145 | #648 |
| 1955 | 89 | #778 |
| 1950 | 25 | #1,497 |
| 1945 | 16 | #1,764 |
| 1940 | 20 | #1,567 |
| 1935 | 13 | #2,118 |
| 1930 | 7 | #3,557 |
| 1925 | 12 | #2,572 |
| 1920 | 6 | #4,229 |
| 1915 | 12 | #2,292 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Tad
- Tad Williams Writer · b. 1957
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Tad mean?
A diminutive of the male given name Thaddeus or Thaddaeus.
How popular is the name Tad in 2025?
Tad ranked #7,619 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 11 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Tad?
6,929 babies have been named Tad in the United States since 1912, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Tad most popular?
Tad peaked in 1966, when 265 newborns received the name.
Is Tad a boy or girl name?
Tad is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Tad rising or falling?
Tad is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Tad?
Well-known people named Tad include Tad Williams (writer).