Find out how popular the first name Tacoma has been for the last 46 years (from 1977 to 2022) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Tacoma by gender

Based on the last 46 years of data, Tacoma is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 85% of people named Tacoma being male.

For the most recent data in 2022, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Tacoma.

The history of the first name Tacoma

The given name Tacoma originates from the Lushootseed language, spoken by several Native American tribes in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The name is derived from the word "Tacobet," meaning "mother of waters" or "waters to be drawn from." It is believed to have been coined by the Puyallup tribe to describe the glacial waters flowing from Mount Rainier into the nearby Puget Sound.

Tacoma was initially used by the Puyallup people to refer to the area now known as Commencement Bay, near the present-day city of Tacoma, Washington. The name gained prominence in the mid-19th century when European settlers arrived in the region and established the town of Tacoma in 1864.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Tacoma was in the journal of British explorer George Vancouver, who visited the area in 1792 and noted the name as "Tah-cho-bet" in his writings. The name also appeared in various treaties and land transactions between the Native American tribes and the United States government in the 19th century.

Throughout history, a few notable individuals have borne the name Tacoma. Tacoma Narrows (1802-1868) was a prominent member of the Puyallup tribe and a signatory of the Medicine Creek Treaty in 1854, which ceded much of the tribe's land to the United States. Chief Tacoma (c. 1770-1858) was a leader of the Puyallup tribe and a respected figure among the Native American communities of the Pacific Northwest.

In more recent times, Tacoma Fukushima (1910-2001) was a Japanese-American artist known for her woodblock prints and paintings depicting the internment camps during World War II. Tacoma Jones (born 1982) is an American professional wrestler who has performed in various promotions, including WWE and TNA.

Additionally, the name Tacoma has been used in literature and popular culture. In the novel "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck, one of the characters is named Tacoma. The name has also been used for various businesses, organizations, and geographic locations, particularly in the Pacific Northwest region.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Tacoma was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Tacoma, please contact us.

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