Tarus
An invented name, not derived from any specific language or meaning.
Name Census estimates that about 504 living Americans carry the first name Tarus. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Tarus today is around 43 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tarus births was 1976 (40 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tarus. 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
504
~ 1 in 680,068 Americans
Peak year
1976
40 babies that year
Average age
43
years old
2011 SSA rank
#12,102
Tracked since 1965
Popularity
Tarus: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Tarus 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 232 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
Tarus 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 Tarus during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Tarus' live
The SSA's state-level files cover 6 states and territories. Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama recorded the most babies named Tarus, while Mississippi, Texas, Florida recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 15 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Tarus
Tarus is a name with uncertain origins, but it is believed to have roots in ancient cultures and languages from various regions. Some linguists suggest that it may be derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "tarus," which means "to cross over" or "to traverse." This could imply a connection to travelers, explorers, or those who ventured into new territories.
Others trace the name's origins to the Sanskrit word "tāraḥ," meaning "star" or "celestial body." In ancient Hindu mythology, the word was used to refer to celestial beings or deities associated with stars. This cosmic connection may have influenced the name's adoption and symbolism in certain cultures.
There are also theories linking Tarus to the ancient Etruscan language, spoken in what is now modern-day Italy. Scholars have identified inscriptions on artifacts and monuments that bear resemblance to the name, although its exact meaning remains unclear.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tarus can be found in the writings of the Greek historian Herodotus, who documented the exploits of a Phoenician explorer by that name during the 5th century BCE. Herodotus described Tarus as a skilled navigator who sailed beyond the Pillars of Hercules (the Strait of Gibraltar) and explored the western coast of Africa.
In the 2nd century CE, Tarus appears as the name of a Roman senator and philosopher mentioned in the writings of the historian Cassius Dio. This Tarus was known for his eloquence and his contributions to the philosophical debates of his time.
During the Middle Ages, Tarus was the name of a prominent medieval scholar and alchemist from the city of Cordoba in present-day Spain. Born in 1018 CE, he wrote extensively on the subjects of astrology, mathematics, and the occult sciences, gaining a reputation as a learned man of his era.
In the 16th century, Tarus was the name of a renowned Italian architect and engineer who played a significant role in the design and construction of several iconic buildings and structures in Rome and Venice. His innovative approaches to architecture and engineering left a lasting impact on the Renaissance era.
Another notable figure named Tarus was a French explorer and cartographer from the 17th century. He was credited with mapping and documenting vast regions of North America, including the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River basin, contributing greatly to the expansion of geographical knowledge during that time.
While the name Tarus may have faded in popularity in modern times, its historical legacy spans across cultures, time periods, and disciplines, from exploration and navigation to philosophy, architecture, and cartography. The name's enigmatic origins and diverse associations continue to intrigue scholars and researchers alike.
People
Tarus + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tarus 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
Tarus: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tarus?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 504 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tarus 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 680,068 US residents.
Is Tarus a common name?
We classify Tarus as "Very Rare". It ranks above 84.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 534 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tarus most popular?
The single biggest year for Tarus was 1976, when 40 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tarus is about 43 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Tarus a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Tarus 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.