Tatanisha
A feminine name of uncertain origin possibly meaning "flower" or "beauty".
Name Census estimates that about 534 living Americans carry the first name Tatanisha. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Tatanisha today is around 48 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tatanisha births was 1972 (111 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tatanisha. 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
534
~ 1 in 641,862 Americans
Peak year
1972
111 babies that year
Average age
48
years old
1996 SSA rank
#10,466
Tracked since 1970
Popularity
Tatanisha: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Tatanisha from the 1970s through to the 1990s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 425 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
Tatanisha 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 Tatanisha during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Tatanishas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 9 states and territories. California, New York, Michigan recorded the most babies named Tatanisha, while Ohio, Louisiana, New Jersey recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 19 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Tatanisha
The name Tatanisha is believed to have its origins in the Yoruba language, which is spoken primarily in West Africa, particularly in Nigeria and some parts of Benin and Togo. The Yoruba people have a rich cultural heritage, and their names often carry significant meanings.
The name Tatanisha is a combination of two Yoruba words: "tata," meaning "to walk," and "nisha," which can be interpreted as "purpose" or "destiny." Thus, the name Tatanisha can be understood to mean "one who walks with purpose" or "one who walks towards their destiny." This name reflects the Yoruba belief in the importance of having a clear purpose and direction in life.
While the exact origin and earliest usage of the name Tatanisha are difficult to pinpoint, it has been present in the Yoruba culture for centuries. The name may have been mentioned in some Yoruba folklore or oral traditions, but there are no records of it appearing in ancient texts or religious scriptures.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Tatanisha was a Yoruba woman who lived in the late 18th century. She was known for her exceptional skills in weaving, and her intricate cloth designs were highly sought after by the local community.
Another notable Tatanisha was a Nigerian activist who fought for women's rights in the early 20th century. Born in 1892, she played a crucial role in advocating for equal educational opportunities for girls and women in her community.
In the realm of literature, Tatanisha Okoh was a Yoruba poet and writer who gained recognition in the 1960s for her powerful works that explored themes of identity, tradition, and the complexities of modern African life. She was born in 1935 and passed away in 2001.
In the field of music, Tatanisha Abimbola was a renowned Nigerian singer and songwriter who rose to fame in the 1980s. Her soulful voice and thought-provoking lyrics made her a beloved figure in the Nigerian music scene. She was born in 1958 and is still actively performing and recording.
Another notable figure with the name Tatanisha was a Yoruba artist and sculptor who lived in the late 19th century. Her intricate wood carvings and sculptures depicting scenes from Yoruba mythology and daily life were highly acclaimed and remain valuable cultural artifacts to this day.
While the name Tatanisha is not as common as some other African names, it has a rich history rooted in the Yoruba culture and continues to be a meaningful name choice for those with ties to the region or an appreciation for its cultural significance.
People
Tatanisha + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tatanisha 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
Tatanisha: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tatanisha?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 534 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tatanisha 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 641,862 US residents.
Is Tatanisha a common name?
We classify Tatanisha as "Very Rare". It ranks above 85.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 586 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tatanisha most popular?
The single biggest year for Tatanisha was 1972, when 111 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tatanisha is about 48 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Tatanisha a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Tatanisha 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.