Taquita
Diminutive of "Taco", meaning "small taco" in Spanish.
Name Census estimates that about 254 living Americans carry the first name Taquita. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Taquita today is around 42 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Taquita births was 1983 (30 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Taquita. 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.
People living today
254
~ 1 in 1,349,427 Americans
Peak year
1983
30 babies that year
Average age
42
years old
1996 SSA rank
#11,685
Tracked since 1973
Popularity
Taquita: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Taquita from the 1970s through to the 1990s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 149 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1980s peak, Taquita remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Taquita 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 Taquita during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Taquita
The name Taquita originates from the Spanish language and is a diminutive form of the word "taco," which means "small cake" or "small bundle." Its roots can be traced back to the Nahuatl language spoken by the Aztecs, where the word "tlahco" referred to a thick, folded tortilla.
In the 16th century, during the Spanish colonization of Mexico, the word "taco" was adopted into the Spanish language to describe a small, folded, or rolled tortilla filled with various ingredients. The diminutive form "taquita" emerged as a term of endearment, often used to refer to a small, adorable, or delicate person or thing.
While the name Taquita is not commonly found in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its origin is deeply intertwined with the rich culinary and cultural heritage of Mexico. It reflects the fusion of Spanish and indigenous Nahuatl influences, which shaped the language and traditions of the region.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Taquita was Taquita Jiménez, a Mexican painter and sculptor born in 1897. She was known for her vibrant depictions of Mexican culture and traditions, and her works are displayed in museums across Mexico.
Another notable figure was Taquita Román (1923-2007), a Cuban singer and actress who gained popularity in the 1940s and 1950s. She appeared in numerous films and television shows, showcasing her talents as a versatile performer.
In the world of sports, Taquita Colón (1933-2020) was a renowned Puerto Rican boxer who held the World Boxing Association's flyweight title from 1963 to 1964. Her tenacity and skill in the ring earned her a place in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Taquita Muñoz (1938-2018) was a influential Mexican writer and journalist known for her poignant novels and essays that explored the complexities of human relationships and societal issues. Her works have been widely acclaimed and translated into multiple languages.
Lastly, Taquita García (1952-2015) was a Mexican-American activist and community organizer who dedicated her life to advocating for the rights of migrant workers and promoting social justice. Her tireless efforts and commitment to empowering marginalized communities left a lasting impact on the organizations she worked with.
People
Taquita + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Taquita 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
Taquita: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Taquita?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 254 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Taquita 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 1,349,427 US residents.
Is Taquita a common name?
We classify Taquita as "Very Rare". It ranks above 77.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 270 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Taquita most popular?
The single biggest year for Taquita was 1983, when 30 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Taquita is about 42 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Taquita a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Taquita in the SSA data are female. 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.
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.