Tenille
A feminine name of French origin meaning "butterfly".
Name Census estimates that about 935 living Americans carry the first name Tenille. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Tenille today is around 41 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tenille births was 1976 (124 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tenille. 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
935
~ 1 in 366,582 Americans
Peak year
1976
124 babies that year
Average age
41
years old
2024 SSA rank
#12,014
Tracked since 1975
Popularity
Tenille: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Tenille from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 399 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
Tenille 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 Tenille during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Tenilles live
The SSA's state-level files cover 14 states and territories. Illinois, California, New York recorded the most babies named Tenille, while New Mexico, Missouri, Indiana recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 16 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Tenille
The name Tenille originated from the French language, derived from the word "tenille," which means "plant fiber" or "coarse cloth." Its earliest recorded use can be traced back to the Middle Ages, around the 12th century, when it was commonly used as a surname in regions of northern France.
During the Renaissance period, the name Tenille gained popularity among the French nobility, particularly in the regions of Normandy and Brittany. It was often associated with families involved in the textile industry or those who worked with plant fibers, reflecting the name's etymological roots.
One of the earliest recorded instances of Tenille as a given name dates back to the late 16th century, when Tenille de Montfort (1570-1638), a French noblewoman from Normandy, gained recognition for her philanthropic efforts and support for local artisans.
In the 17th century, the name Tenille gained prominence with the birth of Tenille de Beauvoir (1608-1673), a French philosopher and writer who was one of the earliest advocates for women's education. Her influential works on ethics and feminism made her a notable figure during the Age of Enlightenment.
Another notable historical figure bearing the name Tenille was Tenille d'Arcy (1725-1798), a French botanist and horticulturist who made significant contributions to the study of plant species native to the Caribbean islands. Her extensive research and cataloging of tropical flora earned her recognition from the French Academy of Sciences.
In the 19th century, Tenille Delacroix (1842-1915), a French painter and sculptor, gained fame for her striking portraits and allegorical works. Her masterpiece, "The Triumph of Liberty," is a celebrated mural adorning the walls of the Palais Garnier in Paris.
Moving into the 20th century, Tenille Mercier (1901-1987) was a renowned French actress and singer who captivated audiences with her performances on stage and in numerous films. Her portrayal of iconic French literary characters, such as Madame Bovary, earned her critical acclaim and numerous awards.
While the name Tenille has French origins, it has also been adopted in various other cultures and regions over time, with variations in spelling and pronunciation. However, its connection to the world of textiles, plants, and artistry has remained a common thread throughout its historical journey.
People
Tenille + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tenille 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
Tenille: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tenille?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 935 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tenille 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 366,582 US residents.
Is Tenille a common name?
We classify Tenille as "Very Rare". It ranks above 89.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 998 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tenille most popular?
The single biggest year for Tenille was 1976, when 124 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tenille is about 41 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Tenille a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Tenille 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.