Tarrence
Of English origin, meaning uncertain but possibly derived from town name.
Name Census estimates that about 754 living Americans carry the first name Tarrence. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Tarrence today is around 39 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tarrence births was 1978 (27 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tarrence. 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
754
~ 1 in 454,581 Americans
Peak year
1978
27 babies that year
Average age
39
years old
2019 SSA rank
#13,907
Tracked since 1962
Popularity
Tarrence: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Tarrence from the 1960s through to the 2010s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 212 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1970s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Tarrence 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 Tarrence during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Tarrences live
Origin
Meaning and history of Tarrence
The name Tarrence is believed to have originated from the ancient Roman name Terentius, which was derived from the Latin word "terere," meaning "to rub" or "to wear away." This name was likely given to individuals who worked in professions related to textile production or as a reference to their perseverance and endurance.
During the Roman Empire, the name Terentius was borne by several notable figures, including the renowned playwright Publius Terentius Afer, who lived from around 195-159 BC. His comedies, such as "The Eunuch" and "The Brothers," have had a lasting influence on Western literature and theatre.
As the Roman Empire expanded, the name Terentius spread across Europe and underwent various transformations in spelling and pronunciation. One of the earliest recorded variants of the name was Tarrance, which appeared in medieval English records from the 12th century.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Tarrence or its variants. One of the earliest was Tarrance of Bayeux, a Norman nobleman who fought alongside William the Conqueror in the Battle of Hastings in 1066. He later became a prominent landowner in England.
Another significant figure was Tarrance Nevill, a 15th-century English nobleman who served as Lord Chancellor of England under King Henry VI. He played a crucial role in mediating disputes between the Houses of Lancaster and York during the Wars of the Roses.
In the realm of literature, Tarrence Hayes was an acclaimed African American poet and educator born in 1971. He won the National Book Award for Poetry in 2010 for his collection "Lighthead" and has been celebrated for his innovative poetic style and exploration of themes of identity and race.
In the world of sports, Tarrence Kinsey was a professional basketball player from the United States, born in 1983. He played in the NBA for several teams, including the Memphis Grizzlies and the Cleveland Cavaliers, and was known for his defensive skills and versatility on the court.
Lastly, Tarrence Damien Thompson, born in 1976, is a Canadian actor and singer best known for his roles in television series such as "Riverdale" and "The Originals." He has also released several albums and has been recognized for his contributions to both the entertainment and music industries.
People
Tarrence + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tarrence 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
Tarrence: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tarrence?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 754 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tarrence 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 454,581 US residents.
Is Tarrence a common name?
We classify Tarrence as "Very Rare". It ranks above 88.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 793 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tarrence most popular?
The single biggest year for Tarrence was 1978, when 27 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tarrence is about 39 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Tarrence a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Tarrence 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.