Find out how popular the first name Tenya has been for the last 32 years (from 1975 to 2006) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Tenya by gender

Based on the last 32 years of data, Tenya is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2006, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Tenya.

The history of the first name Tenya

The name Tenya has its origins in the Japanese language and culture, tracing back to the late 19th century. It is derived from the Japanese word "ten," meaning "heaven" or "celestial," and the suffix "-ya," which is a common ending for Japanese names. The name Tenya essentially translates to "heavenly one" or "one from heaven."

During the Meiji era (1868-1912) in Japan, there was a movement to modernize and westernize the country, including the adoption of given names that reflected a more contemporary and international outlook. The name Tenya emerged as a popular choice for baby boys during this period, symbolizing a connection to traditional Japanese values while embracing a more progressive mindset.

In ancient Japanese literature and folklore, there are no direct references to the name Tenya itself. However, the concept of "heaven" and celestial beings played a significant role in Japanese mythology and religious beliefs, particularly in Shinto and Buddhist traditions.

The earliest recorded example of the name Tenya can be traced back to the late 19th century, but it gained popularity in the early 20th century. One of the earliest notable individuals with this name was Tenya Iida (1901-1989), a Japanese politician and diplomat who served as the Speaker of the House of Representatives in Japan.

Throughout history, several other individuals have borne the name Tenya, including:

1. Tenya Waki (1662-1738), a renowned Japanese painter and calligrapher during the Edo period.
2. Tenya Hasegawa (1908-1984), a Japanese novelist and literary critic known for his works exploring existential themes.
3. Tenya Watanabe (1924-2015), a Japanese businessman and entrepreneur who founded the Watami Food Service company.
4. Tenya Hashimoto (1933-2020), a Japanese martial artist and master of Judo, who competed in the 1960 and 1964 Olympic Games.
5. Tenya Takahashi (1960-present), a Japanese video game designer and producer, best known for his work at Nintendo on franchises like Kirby and Super Smash Bros.

While the name Tenya has maintained a presence in Japan over the past century, its popularity has waxed and waned with changing cultural trends and preferences. Nonetheless, it remains a distinctive and meaningful name that pays homage to Japanese heritage while embodying aspirations of heavenly grace and divine connection.

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 Tenya was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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