Find out how popular the first name Tea has been for the last 48 years (from 1976 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Tea by gender

Based on the last 48 years of data, Tea is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 18 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Tea.

The history of the first name Tea

The name Tea is believed to have its origins in Southeast Asia, where the tea plant is native. The word "tea" is thought to be derived from the Amoy dialect word "tê," which was used to refer to the plant and its leaves.

In ancient Chinese texts, the name Tea is mentioned as early as the 3rd century BCE, when the scholar Confucius is said to have written about the medicinal and spiritual properties of the tea plant. The name was closely associated with the tea culture that developed in China and later spread to other parts of Asia and the world.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Tea was Tea Yin, a Chinese Buddhist monk who lived in the 6th century CE. He is credited with introducing the practice of tea cultivation and consumption to Japan, where it became an integral part of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony.

In the 17th century, a Chinese woman named Tea Leoni became famous for her role in the Dutch East India Company's trade in tea. She was instrumental in establishing the tea trade between China and Europe, which helped to popularize the beverage in the West.

Another notable figure with the name Tea was Tea Tephi, an ancient Irish princess who, according to legend, brought the Stone of Scone (also known as the Stone of Destiny) from Israel to Ireland in the 6th century BCE. This stone was later used in the coronation of Scottish monarchs.

In more recent history, Tea Leoni, an American actress born in 1966, has popularized the name through her successful career in film and television. She is best known for her roles in movies such as "Deep Impact" and "The Family Man."

Tea Obreht, a Serbian-American author born in 1985, has also brought attention to the name with her critically acclaimed debut novel "The Tiger's Wife," which won the Orange Prize for Fiction in 2011.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Tea was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Tea, please contact us.

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