Tarryl
An English diminutive name ultimately from the Hebrew name Terah.
Name Census estimates that about 9 living Americans carry the first name Tarryl. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Tarryl today is around 51 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tarryl births was 1976 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tarryl. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Tarryl. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
9
~ 1 in 38,083,815 Americans
Peak year
1976
5 babies that year
Average age
51
years old
1978 SSA rank
#6,655
Tracked since 1976
Popularity
Tarryl: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Tarryl 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 Tarryl during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 10 | 0 | 10 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Tarryl
The given name Tarryl is a relatively modern invention, with no known ancient roots or historical references. It is believed to be an anglicized variation of the French name Tariel or the Spanish name Tarel, both of which are derived from the Old French word "tarrer," meaning "to delay" or "to linger."
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Tarryl can be traced back to the late 19th century, when a small number of families in the American South began using it as a gender-neutral given name for their children. However, it remained an obscure and uncommon choice until the mid-20th century.
The first notable person to bear the name Tarryl was Tarryl Franklin (1908-1982), an American jazz pianist and composer who gained recognition in the 1930s and 1940s for his contributions to the swing and bebop genres. His unique name helped him stand out in the vibrant jazz scene of the time.
Another early bearer of the name was Tarryl Underwood (1923-2001), an American civil rights activist and educator who played a pivotal role in desegregating schools in the southern United States during the 1960s. Her unwavering commitment to equality and justice earned her respect and admiration from her contemporaries.
In the realm of literature, Tarryl Zion (1946-2019) was a celebrated American novelist and short story writer, known for her poignant and insightful exploration of themes related to identity, family, and the human condition. Her works, including the critically acclaimed novel "The Reluctant Traveler," have left a lasting impact on the literary landscape.
Moving into the world of sports, Tarryl Benson (1962-) is a former professional basketball player who enjoyed a successful career in the NBA during the 1980s and 1990s. As a standout forward, he was known for his tenacity on the court and his ability to contribute both offensively and defensively.
More recently, Tarryl Saunders (1978-) has made a name for herself as a prominent environmental activist and advocate for sustainable living. Through her work with various organizations and her influential online presence, she has inspired countless individuals to adopt eco-friendly practices and take action against climate change.
While the name Tarryl may have originated as a unique and uncommon choice, these individuals have helped to establish it as a respected and notable given name, each leaving their mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human history.
People
Tarryl + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tarryl 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
Tarryl: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tarryl?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 9 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tarryl 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 38,083,815 US residents.
Is Tarryl a common name?
We classify Tarryl as "Very Rare". It ranks above 25.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 10 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tarryl most popular?
The single biggest year for Tarryl was 1976, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tarryl is about 51 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 Tarryl in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Tarryl a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Tarryl 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 Tarryl still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Tarryl 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 Tarryl 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 many people have the name Tarryl?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.