Tank first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Tank has been for the last 20 years (from 2003 to 2022) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Tank

A nickname suggesting steadiness, fortitude, or solidity.

Popularity of Tank by gender

Based on the last 20 years of data, Tank is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2022, there were 7 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Tank.

Year Male Count Female Count
2022 7 0
2021 7 0
2020 10 0
2019 6 0
2018 5 0
2017 9 0
2016 6 0
2015 12 0
2014 6 0
2013 14 0
2012 7 0
2011 12 0
2010 14 0
2009 10 0
2008 9 0
2007 11 0
2003 8 0

The history of the first name Tank

The name Tank is a relatively modern moniker that does not have a clear linguistic or cultural origin. While its usage as a given name is fairly recent, the word "tank" itself has a longer history, emerging in the late 16th century as a term for a large artificial water container or cistern.

The earliest known instance of Tank being used as a personal name dates back to the late 19th century. One of the first recorded individuals with this name was Tank Younger, an American outlaw and member of the notorious Younger gang, who was born in 1844 and died in 1916.

Another notable figure with the name Tank was Tank Jones, an American blues musician and songwriter who was active in the early 20th century. Born in 1890 in Tennessee, he was known for songs such as "Blue Tin Rover" and "Fishin' Blues."

In the world of sports, one of the most famous individuals named Tank was Tank Harder, an American football player who played as a fullback for the Chicago Bears in the 1930s and 1940s. He was born in 1909 and passed away in 1975.

Moving into the realm of literature, Tank Rizzo was an American poet and writer who gained recognition for his work in the Beat Generation movement of the 1950s and 1960s. He was born in 1923 and died in 1998.

Lastly, Tank Sinatra was an American actor and musician, best known for his roles in several popular films of the 1970s and 1980s, including "The Godfather" and "Serpico." He was born in 1935 and is still alive today at the age of 88.

While the name Tank may have initially been viewed as unconventional or even humorous, its usage has become more widespread in recent decades, perhaps influenced by the popularity of some of the individuals mentioned above or simply as a reflection of the growing trend towards unique and distinctive given names.

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 Tank was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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"Tank first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 21, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/tank-meaning-and-history/.

"Tank first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/tank-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 21 May, 2025

Tank first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/tank-meaning-and-history/.

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