Tesla: 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	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1960s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1970s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1980s	60	–	60	6	–	#3,779
1990s	943	–	943	94	+1472%	#1,205
2000s	357	5	362	36	-62%	#2,888
2010s	1,118	86	1,204	120	+233%	#1,403
2020s (to 2025)	111	7	118	20	-84%	#3,177

Decade

Girls

Boys

Total

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

1950s

–

1960s

–

1970s

–

1980s

–

#3,779

1990s

943

–

943

+1472%

#1,205

2000s

357

362

-62%

#2,888

2010s

1,118

1,204

120

+233%

#1,403

2020s (to 2025)

111

118

-84%

#3,177

The story of Tesla

Tesla 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 1985, 2,687 American babies have been named Tesla. Its peak came in 2016, when 180 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2010s.

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

How old are people named Tesla?

The median living Tesla is about 16 years old; half are between 10 and 30. An estimated 2,700 people named Tesla 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.

Tesla 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	13	#8,451	–	–
2022	19	#6,446	–	–
2021	29	#4,711	–	–
2020	50	#3,177	7	#10,487
2019	74	#2,426	6	#11,988
2018	104	#1,924	7	#10,627
2017	134	#1,624	11	#7,494
2016	162	#1,433	18	#5,292
2015	167	#1,403	6	#11,940
2014	113	#1,817	9	#8,720
2013	135	#1,596	14	#6,205
2012	100	#1,971	5	#14,004
2011	70	#2,587	10	#8,002
2010	59	#2,936	–	–
2009	61	#2,888	5	#14,291
2008	39	#4,080	–	–
2007	33	#4,559	–	–
2006	32	#4,563	–	–
2005	28	#4,818	–	–
2004	34	#4,163	–	–
2003	23	#5,405	–	–
2002	35	#3,802	–	–
2001	36	#3,701	–	–
2000	36	#3,655	–	–
1995	95	#1,596	–	–
1990	107	#1,466	–	–
1985	5	#12,348	–	–
1980	–	–	–	–
1975	–	–	–	–
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 Tesla, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Tesla?

The median living Tesla is about 16 years old. Half of all living Teslas are between 10 and 30 years old.

How many people named Tesla are alive today?

An estimated 2,700 people named Tesla are alive in the United States, based on 2,687 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Tesla in 2025?

Tesla 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 Tesla?

2,687 babies have been named Tesla in the United States since 1985, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Tesla most popular?

Tesla peaked in 2016, when 180 newborns received the name.

Is Tesla a boy or girl name?

Tesla is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 96% of babies with the name.

Is the name Tesla rising or falling?

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

Tesla

Tesla popularity over time

The story of Tesla

How old are people named Tesla?

Tesla year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Tesla