Tanessa: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

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	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–
1960s	–	–	–	–
1970s	83	8	–	#4,869
1980s	138	14	+66%	#3,850
1990s	90	9	-35%	#5,042
2000s	64	6	-29%	#9,851
2010s	7	1	-89%	#14,356
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

1950s

–

1960s

–

1970s

–

#4,869

1980s

138

+66%

#3,850

1990s

-35%

#5,042

2000s

-29%

#9,851

2010s

-89%

#14,356

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Tanessa

Tanessa 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 1972, 382 American babies have been named Tanessa. Its peak came in 1987, when 23 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 Tanessa stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Tanessa?

The median living Tanessa is about 38 years old; half are between 30 and 44. An estimated 400 people named Tanessa are alive in the United States today.

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

Tanessa year by year

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

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	–	–
2024	–	–
2023	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	–	–
2017	–	–
2016	–	–
2015	7	#14,356
2014	–	–
2013	–	–
2012	–	–
2011	–	–
2010	–	–
2009	7	#15,077
2008	11	#10,732
2007	7	#15,318
2006	12	#9,851
2005	6	#16,242
2004	8	#12,651
2003	–	–
2002	7	#13,472
2001	–	–
2000	6	#14,847
1995	9	#9,475
1990	19	#5,042
1985	12	#6,006
1980	11	#6,279
1975	9	#6,412
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Tanessa?

The median living Tanessa is about 38 years old. Half of all living Tanessas are between 30 and 44 years old.

How many people named Tanessa are alive today?

An estimated 400 people named Tanessa are alive in the United States, based on 382 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Tanessa in 2025?

Tanessa 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 Tanessa?

382 babies have been named Tanessa in the United States since 1972, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Tanessa most popular?

Tanessa peaked in 1987, when 23 newborns received the name.

Is Tanessa a boy or girl name?

Tanessa is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Tanessa rising or falling?

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

Tanessa

Tanessa popularity over time

The story of Tanessa

How old are people named Tanessa?

Tanessa year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Tanessa