Tavish
A masculine English given name of Scottish origin meaning "prosperous traveler".
Name Census estimates that about 750 living Americans carry the first name Tavish. It is a predominantly male name (99.3% of registrations). The average person named Tavish today is around 22 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tavish births was 1993 (35 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tavish. 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
750
~ 1 in 457,006 Americans
Peak year
1993
35 babies that year
Average age
22
years old
2024 SSA rank
#5,614
Tracked since 1970
Gender
Gender distribution for Tavish
Out of the 764 babies given the name Tavish since 1880, 99.3% were registered as male. The name sits firmly on the male side of the spectrum, with only a handful of female registrations across the entire dataset.
Tavish as a male name
- Ranked #5,614 in 2024
- 17 male births in 2024
- Peak: 1993 (35 births)
Tavish as a female name
- Ranked #9,207 in 1970
- 5 female births in 1970
- Peak: 1970 (5 births)
Popularity
Tavish: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Tavish from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 210 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1990s peak, Tavish remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Tavish 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 Tavish during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Tavishs live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. California, Tennessee, Washington recorded the most babies named Tavish, while Washington, Tennessee, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 7 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Tavish
The name Tavish is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic name Tàmhas, which is itself a variant of the name Thomas. The name Thomas ultimately derives from the Aramaic name Te'oma, meaning "twin." The earliest recorded use of the name Tavish can be traced back to the 16th century in Scotland.
In Scottish history, the name Tavish was particularly popular among the clans of the Highlands. One notable figure was Tavish MacIver, a 17th-century warrior who fought for the Clan MacIver during the Scottish Civil War. He was known for his bravery and loyalty to the clan.
Another historical figure bearing the name Tavish was Tavish MacLeod, a Scottish poet and scholar who lived in the late 18th century. He was renowned for his contributions to the preservation of Gaelic language and culture, and his works were widely studied and celebrated.
In the 19th century, Tavish McTavish was a prominent Scottish businessman and trader who established a successful trading company in the Canadian fur trade. He played a significant role in the economic development of the region and left a lasting legacy.
Moving into the 20th century, Tavish Bulloch was a Scottish architect who designed several notable buildings in Edinburgh, including the Balmoral Hotel. His works are celebrated for their unique blend of traditional Scottish and modern architectural styles.
Lastly, Tavish Finnie was a Scottish actor and playwright who gained recognition for his performances on stage and screen in the late 20th century. He was particularly known for his portrayal of iconic Scottish characters and his commitment to promoting Scottish culture through his artistic endeavors.
While the name Tavish has Scottish roots, it has also been adopted and used in various parts of the world, particularly in English-speaking countries with strong Scottish heritage. However, the historical and cultural significance of the name remains deeply rooted in the traditions and legacy of Scotland.
People
Tavish + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tavish 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
Tavish: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tavish?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 750 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tavish 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 457,006 US residents.
Is Tavish a common name?
We classify Tavish 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, 764 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tavish most popular?
The single biggest year for Tavish was 1993, when 35 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tavish is about 22 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Tavish a male name?
Yes, 99.3% of people registered as Tavish 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.