Tanav
A Hindu masculine name meaning "intense" or "intense passion".
Name Census estimates that about 137 living Americans carry the first name Tanav. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Tanav today is around 15 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tanav births was 2013 (18 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tanav. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Tanav with official rankings and popularity over time.
People living today
137
~ 1 in 2,501,856 Americans
Peak year
2013
18 babies that year
Average age
15
years old
2021 SSA rank
#13,841
Tracked since 2004
Popularity
Tanav: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Tanav from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 87 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Tanav by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Tanav during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Tanavs live
Origin
Meaning and history of Tanav
The name Tanav is believed to have its origins in the ancient Sanskrit language, which was predominant in the Indian subcontinent during the Vedic period, dating back to around 1500-500 BCE. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "tanav," which translates to "body" or "physique." This suggests that the name may have been associated with physical strength or a well-built stature.
References to the name Tanav can be found in some of the earliest Hindu scriptures, such as the Vedas and the Upanishads. It is mentioned in the Rig Veda, one of the oldest and most revered texts in Hinduism, which dates back to around 1500-1200 BCE. However, the context and significance of the name within these ancient texts remain obscure.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Tanav was a Brahmin scholar and philosopher who lived in the 7th century CE. He is known for his contributions to the field of Nyaya philosophy, which deals with logic and epistemology. Unfortunately, there is limited information available about his life and works.
Another notable figure named Tanav was a Hindu warrior who served under the Maratha ruler Shivaji Bhonsle in the 17th century. He is said to have played a pivotal role in several military campaigns against the Mughal Empire, displaying exceptional bravery and strategic prowess on the battlefield.
In the realm of literature, there was a renowned poet named Tanav who lived during the 9th century CE. He was a part of the Sanskrit literary movement and is celebrated for his intricate and evocative poetry, which explored themes of love, nature, and spirituality.
Transitioning to more recent times, Tanav Garg was an Indian businessman and philanthropist who lived from 1932 to 2018. He founded a successful manufacturing company and was actively involved in various charitable initiatives, particularly in the areas of education and healthcare.
Another individual worth mentioning is Tanav Batia, a contemporary Indian fashion designer who has gained recognition for his innovative and sustainable clothing lines. Born in 1985, he has showcased his work at various international fashion events and has been celebrated for his commitment to ethical and eco-friendly practices in the fashion industry.
While the name Tanav has its roots in ancient Sanskrit, it continues to be used as a given name in modern times, particularly in India and among the Indian diaspora around the world. However, the name's historical significance and deeper cultural connotations remain rooted in the rich tapestry of Indian mythology, philosophy, and literature.
People
Tanav + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tanav as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Tanav: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tanav?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 137 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tanav going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,501,856 US residents.
Is Tanav a common name?
We classify Tanav as "Very Rare". It ranks above 69% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 138 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tanav most popular?
The single biggest year for Tanav was 2013, when 18 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tanav is about 15 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Tanav in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Tanav a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Tanav in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Tanav still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Tanav in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Tanav can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Tanav?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.