Find out how popular the first name Tesla has been for the last 39 years (from 1985 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Tesla by gender

Based on the last 39 years of data, Tesla is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 96% of people named Tesla being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 13 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Tesla.

The history of the first name Tesla

The name Tesla is a relatively modern invention that emerged in the late 19th century. It is not derived from an ancient language or culture. Instead, it originated as a surname in the Slavic region of what is now Croatia.

The name Tesla traces its roots to the Serbian inventor and electrical engineer Nikola Tesla. He was born in 1856 in the village of Smiljan, which was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the time (now located in modern-day Croatia). His surname, Tesla, is believed to be derived from the Serbian word "tezak," meaning "peasant" or "worker."

Nikola Tesla himself did not name any children with the first name Tesla. However, his groundbreaking work in the fields of electricity and electromagnetics, including his contributions to the development of alternating current (AC) electrical systems, led to his name becoming widely recognized and celebrated.

Over time, some parents began naming their children Tesla as a tribute to the renowned inventor and his remarkable achievements. The first recorded instances of the name Tesla as a first name are from the early 20th century, shortly after Nikola Tesla's pioneering work gained widespread recognition.

One of the earliest notable individuals named Tesla was Tesla Müller, a Croatian-American writer and activist born in 1898. She was an advocate for Croatian independence and played a role in the Croatian national movement.

Another early individual named Tesla was Tesla Reichstein, a Swiss chemist born in 1897. He received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1950 for his work on the hormones of the adrenal cortex.

In more recent times, the name Tesla has gained popularity, particularly among those who admire Nikola Tesla's scientific legacy or his visionary ideas. Some notable individuals named Tesla include:

1. Tesla Corin, an American actress born in 1982.
2. Tesla Monahan, an American actress and model born in 1988.
3. Tesla Rae, an American singer-songwriter born in 1991.
4. Tesla Dowmunt-Spire, a British actress born in 1996.
5. Tesla Kirn, an American photographer and visual artist born in 1996.

While the name Tesla is not rooted in ancient history or mythology, it has become a modern tribute to one of the most influential scientists and inventors of the 20th century, Nikola Tesla, whose pioneering work continues to shape our understanding of electricity and modern technology.

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

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

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