Taves
A diminutive form of the Germanic name Tavi, itself a pet form of Tavis or Taufr, meaning "bird".
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Taves. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Taves today is around 10 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Taves births was 2016 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Taves. 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 Taves. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
2016
6 babies that year
Average age
10
years old
2016 SSA rank
#11,991
Tracked since 2016
Popularity
Taves: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Taves 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 Taves during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Taves
The given name Taves is believed to have originated from the Portuguese language, with its roots dating back to the 15th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Latin word "tavus," which means "peacock." This connection suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who held a regal or majestic bearing, akin to the grand and colorful peacock.
The earliest recorded instance of the name Taves can be traced back to the 16th century, when it appeared in historical records from Portugal. During this period, the name was predominantly used within Portuguese-speaking communities, particularly in regions with strong cultural ties to Portugal.
One of the earliest notable individuals bearing the name Taves was Taves de Sousa, a Portuguese explorer and navigator who lived in the late 15th century. He was part of the exploratory voyages led by Vasco da Gama, which opened up new trade routes to India and the East.
In the 17th century, Taves Garcia emerged as a prominent figure in the Portuguese colony of Brazil. He was a landowner and influential figure in the region, playing a role in the development of the local community during that era.
Moving forward to the 19th century, Taves Almeida was a renowned Portuguese painter known for his vivid landscapes and depictions of everyday life in Portugal. His works are still celebrated today and can be found in various art galleries and museums across the country.
In the realm of literature, Taves Monteiro was a celebrated Portuguese writer and poet who lived in the early 20th century. His poetic works, which explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition, garnered widespread acclaim and continue to be studied and appreciated by scholars and literary enthusiasts alike.
Another notable figure with the name Taves was Taves Ferreira, a Brazilian football player who represented his country in the 1950 FIFA World Cup. Despite his team's heartbreaking loss in the final match against Uruguay, Ferreira's skilled play and determination on the field left a lasting impact on Brazilian football history.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Taves, highlighting its rich cultural heritage and the diverse backgrounds of those who have carried this distinctive moniker.
People
Taves + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Taves 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
Taves: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Taves?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Taves 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 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Taves a common name?
We classify Taves as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Taves most popular?
The single biggest year for Taves was 2016, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Taves is about 10 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 Taves in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Taves a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Taves 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 Taves still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Taves 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 Taves 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 common is the name Taves?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many Americans are named Taves at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.