Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1985

Tan

Gender Boy · 2% girls Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Tan
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1985
29 babies
All-time total
597
#7,175 all-time among boys
First recorded
1976
in Social Security records

Tan popularity over time

597 babies have been named Tan since 1976, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.010.010.020.0218801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
BoysGirls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Girls Boys Total Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – – – –
1890s – – – – – –
1900s – – – – – –
1910s – – – – – –
1920s – – – – – –
1930s – – – – – –
1940s – – – – – –
1950s – – – – – –
1960s – – – – – –
1970s 5 39 44 4 – #3,055
1980s 6 202 208 21 +373% #2,010
1990s – 178 178 18 -14% #2,620
2000s – 120 120 12 -33% #4,306
2010s – 47 47 5 -61% #7,518
2020s (to 2025) – – – – – –

The story of Tan

Tan is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1976, 597 American babies have been named Tan. Its peak came in 1985, when 29 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1980s.

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 Tan stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Tan?

The median living Tan is about 33 years old; half are between 24 and 40. An estimated 600 people named Tan are alive in the United States today.

median 33 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Tan year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025 – – – –
2024 – – – –
2023 – – – –
2022 – – – –
2021 – – – –
2020 – – – –
2019 – – 8 #9,639
2018 – – 7 #10,611
2017 – – – –
2016 – – – –
2015 – – – –
2014 – – – –
2013 – – 7 #10,598
2012 – – 8 #9,600
2011 – – 6 #12,099
2010 – – 11 #7,518
2009 – – 9 #8,908
2008 – – – –
2007 – – 16 #5,641
2006 – – 12 #6,857
2005 – – 9 #8,221
2004 – – 16 #5,219
2003 – – 12 #6,209
2002 – – 19 #4,306
2001 – – 18 #4,450
2000 – – 9 #7,336
1995 – – 15 #4,247
1990 – – 26 #2,620
1985 – – 29 #2,010
1980 6 #10,243 18 #2,719
1975 – – – –
1970 – – – –
1965 – – – –
1960 – – – –
1955 – – – –
1950 – – – –
1945 – – – –
1940 – – – –
1935 – – – –
1930 – – – –
1925 – – – –
1920 – – – –
1915 – – – –
1910 – – – –
1905 – – – –
1900 – – – –
1895 – – – –
1890 – – – –
1885 – – – –
1880 – – – –

Famous people named Tan

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Tan Malaka Tan Malaka Indonesian communist philosopher, activist, and national hero (1897–1949) 19th century
  2. 2 Tan Zhongyi Tan Zhongyi Chinese chess grandmaster (born 1991) Contemporary
  3. 3 Tan Dun Tan Dun Chinese-American composer and conductor (born 1957) Contemporary
  4. 4 Tan Sitong Tan Sitong Chinese philosopher and reformist (1865–1898) 19th century

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Tan, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Tan?

The median living Tan is about 33 years old. Half of all living Tans are between 24 and 40 years old.

How many people named Tan are alive today?

An estimated 600 people named Tan are alive in the United States, based on 597 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Tan in 2025?

Tan did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Tan?

597 babies have been named Tan in the United States since 1976, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Tan most popular?

Tan peaked in 1985, when 29 newborns received the name.

Is Tan a boy or girl name?

Tan is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 98% of babies with the name.

Is the name Tan rising or falling?

Tan is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Tan?

Well-known people named Tan include Tan Malaka (politician), Tan Zhongyi (chess player), Tan Dun (composer).

Names like Tan

Names that sound and feel close to Tan: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Tan with similar names → More names starting with T →