Teneisha
Feminine name of undetermined origin, possibly from the Hebrew "teniah" meaning "comfort".
Name Census estimates that about 406 living Americans carry the first name Teneisha. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Teneisha today is around 40 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Teneisha births was 1980 (30 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Teneisha. 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
406
~ 1 in 844,223 Americans
Peak year
1980
30 babies that year
Average age
40
years old
2004 SSA rank
#15,927
Tracked since 1973
Popularity
Teneisha: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Teneisha from the 1970s through to the 2000s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 214 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Teneisha 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 Teneisha during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Teneishas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. Georgia, Illinois, Michigan recorded the most babies named Teneisha, while Michigan, Illinois, Georgia recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 6 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Teneisha
The name Teneisha is believed to have its origins in the African American culture, with roots tracing back to the late 20th century. It is a unique blend of various linguistic influences, drawing from both African and English naming traditions.
One theory suggests that Teneisha is derived from the Swahili word "tenesa," which means "to be soft" or "to be gentle." This connection to the concept of gentleness and tenderness could have influenced the creation of the name. Another possibility is that Teneisha is a modern invented name, combining elements from popular African American names like Tania, Nisha, and Keisha.
Despite its relatively recent emergence, the name Teneisha has gained widespread recognition and popularity within the African American community. It has been embraced as a strong and distinctive name, reflecting the cultural pride and identity of its bearers.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Teneisha. One of the earliest recorded examples is Teneisha Collins (born 1978), an American basketball player who played in the WNBA for teams like the Phoenix Mercury and the Houston Comets.
Another prominent figure is Teneisha Turrentine (born 1984), a former professional basketball player who represented the United States in international competitions and won a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
In the world of entertainment, Teneisha Renee Robinson (born 1985) is a singer and songwriter who has worked with various artists and released her own music. Her unique vocal style and artistic expression have gained her recognition in the music industry.
Teneisha Leinor (born 1987) is a successful entrepreneur and businesswoman who has made significant contributions to the field of marketing and branding. Her innovative strategies and entrepreneurial spirit have earned her respect and admiration.
Lastly, Teneisha Tate (born 1992) is a talented American track and field athlete who has excelled in the sprinting events. She has represented the United States in numerous international competitions and has won several medals, including gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
These individuals, along with many others, have helped to establish Teneisha as a powerful and meaningful name, carrying a sense of strength, resilience, and cultural identity.
People
Teneisha + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Teneisha 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
Teneisha: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Teneisha?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 406 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Teneisha 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 844,223 US residents.
Is Teneisha a common name?
We classify Teneisha as "Very Rare". It ranks above 82.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 430 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Teneisha most popular?
The single biggest year for Teneisha was 1980, when 30 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Teneisha is about 40 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Teneisha a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Teneisha 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.