Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1970

Tanja

Meaning A female given name, variant of Tanya Gender Girl Rank 2025 Below top lists

A female given name, variant of Tanya

Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Tanja
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1970
153 babies
All-time total
2,580
#3,964 all-time among girls
First recorded
1943
in Social Security records

Tanja popularity over time

2,580 babies have been named Tanja since 1943, 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
0.030.050.080.118801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1970Girls

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 10 1 – #5,302
1950s 210 21 +2000% #1,701
1960s 951 95 +353% #954
1970s 924 92 -3% #875
1980s 329 33 -64% #2,183
1990s 126 13 -62% #4,106
2000s 30 3 -76% #13,360
2010s – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Tanja

Tanja 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 1943, 2,580 American babies have been named Tanja. Its peak came in 1970, when 153 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1970s.

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

How old are people named Tanja?

The median living Tanja is about 54 years old; half are between 48 and 60. An estimated 2,400 people named Tanja are alive in the United States today.

median 54 020406080100

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

Tanja 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 – –
2014 – –
2013 – –
2012 – –
2011 – –
2010 – –
2009 – –
2008 – –
2007 7 #15,319
2006 5 #19,774
2005 – –
2004 5 #18,543
2003 – –
2002 6 #15,216
2001 7 #13,360
2000 – –
1995 11 #8,024
1990 25 #4,106
1985 31 #2,998
1980 47 #2,183
1975 71 #1,457
1970 153 #875
1965 88 #1,134
1960 71 #1,311
1955 18 #2,716
1950 8 #4,280
1945 – –
1940 – –
1935 – –
1930 – –
1925 – –
1920 – –
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Tanja

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

  1. 1 Tanja Ribič Tanja Ribič Slovenian actress and singer (born 1968) Contemporary
  2. 2 Tanja Mihhailova-Saar Tanja Mihhailova-Saar Estonian singer b. 1983 · Contemporary
  3. 3 Tanja Poutiainen Tanja Poutiainen Finnish alpine skier b. 1980 · Contemporary
  4. 4 Tanja Žakelj Tanja Žakelj Slovenian cyclist (born 1988) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Tanja?

The median living Tanja is about 54 years old. Half of all living Tanjas are between 48 and 60 years old.

How many people named Tanja are alive today?

An estimated 2,400 people named Tanja are alive in the United States, based on 2,580 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Tanja mean?

A female given name, variant of Tanya

How popular is the name Tanja in 2025?

Tanja 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 Tanja?

2,580 babies have been named Tanja in the United States since 1943, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Tanja most popular?

Tanja peaked in 1970, when 153 newborns received the name.

Is Tanja a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Tanja rising or falling?

Tanja has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Tanja?

Well-known people named Tanja include Tanja Ribič (actor), Tanja Mihhailova-Saar (singer), Tanja Poutiainen (skier).

Names like Tanja

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

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