Tenlee
A feminine name with uncertain origins, potentially combining the numerical element "ten" with "lee".
Name Census estimates that about 294 living Americans carry the first name Tenlee. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Tenlee today is around 12 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tenlee births was 2011 (40 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tenlee. 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
294
~ 1 in 1,165,831 Americans
Peak year
2011
40 babies that year
Average age
12
years old
2024 SSA rank
#17,393
Tracked since 2003
Popularity
Tenlee: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Tenlee from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 238 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Tenlee 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 Tenlee during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Tenlees live
Origin
Meaning and history of Tenlee
The name Tenlee is a relatively modern invention, likely combining elements from various linguistic sources. It does not appear to have a direct origin in any single language or culture, but rather a creative amalgamation of sounds and syllables.
One potential influence could be the Old English word "ten," meaning "to stretch" or "extend." This could lend a sense of endurance or perseverance to the name. The suffix "-lee" is common in many English names, often derived from Old English words denoting meadows, fields, or clearings.
There are no known ancient texts, religious scriptures, or historical records that reference the name Tenlee specifically. Its modern construction suggests it did not exist in widespread use until relatively recent times.
The earliest recorded examples of the name Tenlee are likely from the late 20th or early 21st century, as it gained popularity as a unique and distinctive name for newborns. However, due to its modern nature, there are no widely recognized famous historical figures who bore this name.
While Tenlee may not have a rich historical lineage, its unique combination of sounds and potential meanings could make it an appealing choice for parents seeking a distinctive name for their child.
People
Tenlee + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tenlee 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
Tenlee: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tenlee?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 294 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tenlee 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 1,165,831 US residents.
Is Tenlee a common name?
We classify Tenlee as "Very Rare". It ranks above 79% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 296 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tenlee most popular?
The single biggest year for Tenlee was 2011, when 40 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tenlee is about 12 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 Tenlee in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Tenlee a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Tenlee 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.
Is Tenlee still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Tenlee 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 Tenlee 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 the name Tenlee?
If you just want to know how many Americans are named Tenlee, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.