Tarrell
A masculine name of uncertain origin, possibly related to the Old English word "terrier".
Name Census estimates that about 771 living Americans carry the first name Tarrell. It is a predominantly male name (98.6% of registrations). The average person named Tarrell today is around 34 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tarrell births was 1987 (35 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tarrell. 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
771
~ 1 in 444,558 Americans
Peak year
1987
35 babies that year
Average age
34
years old
2024 SSA rank
#8,157
Tracked since 1962
Gender
Gender distribution for Tarrell
Tarrell leans heavily male at 98.6% of total registrations, but 11 girls have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Tarrell as a male name
- Ranked #13,964 in 2024
- 5 male births in 2024
- Peak: 1987 (35 births)
Tarrell as a female name
- Ranked #8,157 in 1972
- 6 female births in 1972
- Peak: 1972 (6 births)
Popularity
Tarrell: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Tarrell from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 238 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Tarrell 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 Tarrell during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Tarrells live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. New York, Maryland, Michigan recorded the most babies named Tarrell, while Michigan, Maryland, New York recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 16 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Tarrell
The name Tarrell has its origins in the ancient Celtic language, which was spoken by various tribes and communities throughout Western Europe during the Iron Age, around 800 BC to 1 BC. The name is believed to be derived from the Celtic word "tarr," which means "thunder" or "thunderous," and the suffix "-ell," which was a common diminutive or endearing form in the language.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Tarrell can be found in the ancient Irish annals, where it appears as "Tairrell," referring to a chieftain or warrior from the 5th century AD. It is likely that the name was more widespread in regions that were heavily influenced by Celtic culture, such as parts of present-day Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and parts of northern France and England.
In the Middle Ages, the name Tarrell was occasionally used by noble families in various parts of Europe, although it was not as common as some other Celtic names. One notable figure bearing this name was Tarrell de Montfort, a Norman knight who fought in the Crusades during the 12th century.
As the centuries passed, the name Tarrell continued to be used sporadically, often among families with Celtic roots or connections. In the 18th century, Tarrell Wilkinson was a British explorer and writer who documented his travels in the Middle East and North Africa.
Another notable bearer of the name was Tarrell Brown, an American abolitionist and writer who lived in the 19th century. Born into slavery in Virginia in 1829, Brown escaped to the North and became an influential advocate for the abolition of slavery and the rights of African Americans.
In more recent times, the name Tarrell has been used by individuals from various backgrounds, though it remains relatively uncommon. One example is Tarrell Christie, a former professional basketball player from the United States who played in the NBA and various international leagues in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
While the name Tarrell may not be as widely recognized as some other Celtic names, its roots in ancient history and its association with various notable figures throughout the centuries make it a unique and intriguing choice for those interested in names with a rich cultural heritage.
People
Tarrell + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tarrell 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
Tarrell: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tarrell?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 771 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tarrell 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 444,558 US residents.
Is Tarrell a common name?
We classify Tarrell as "Very Rare". It ranks above 88.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 799 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tarrell most popular?
The single biggest year for Tarrell was 1987, when 35 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tarrell is about 34 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Tarrell a male name?
Yes, 98.6% of people registered as Tarrell 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.
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.