Tein
A masculine name of Norwegian origin meaning "warrior" or "fighter".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Tein. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Tein today is around 18 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tein births was 2008 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tein. 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 Tein. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2008
5 babies that year
Average age
18
years old
2008 SSA rank
#14,371
Tracked since 2008
Popularity
Tein: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Tein 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 Tein during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Tein
The name Tein has its origins in the ancient Sanskrit language, which was spoken in the Indian subcontinent during the 2nd millennium BCE. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "tejas," meaning "brilliance" or "radiance." This name was likely given to children in the hope that they would possess a bright and shining spirit.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tein can be found in the ancient Hindu scriptures known as the Vedas, which date back to around 1500-500 BCE. In these texts, Tein is mentioned as the name of a sage or rishi, indicating the name's association with wisdom and spiritual enlightenment.
During the medieval period, the name Tein gained popularity in parts of South Asia, particularly in regions where Sanskrit and its derivative languages were widely spoken. One notable figure from this era was Tein Bahadur, a Sikh guru and warrior who lived in the 17th century (1621-1675). He is revered for his teachings on religious tolerance and his martyrdom for defending the right to practice one's faith.
In the 18th century, a Persian poet and scholar named Tein Masudi (1723-1811) gained recognition for his works on history, geography, and literature. His writings provided valuable insights into the cultural and intellectual landscape of the Islamic world during that period.
Moving further into the 20th century, Tein Ismail (1905-1987) was a prominent writer and activist from South Africa. He played a significant role in the anti-apartheid movement and advocated for the rights of the Indian diaspora in his country.
Another notable figure with the name Tein was Tein Mukherjee (1926-2021), an Indian artist and painter renowned for her vibrant and expressive works. Her art often depicted the lives and struggles of ordinary people, and she was recognized with numerous awards and honors during her lifetime.
While the name Tein is not as commonly used today as it once was, its rich cultural and historical significance continues to make it a remarkable and meaningful choice for parents seeking a name with deep roots and a connection to ancient traditions.
People
Tein + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tein 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
Tein: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tein?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tein 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Tein a common name?
We classify Tein as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tein most popular?
The single biggest year for Tein was 2008, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tein is about 18 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 Tein in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Tein a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Tein 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 Tein still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Tein 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 Tein 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 many people have Tein as a first name?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.