Thierno first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Thierno has been for the last 29 years (from 1996 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Thierno

A masculine name of West African origin meaning "religious teacher" or "Islamic scholar".

Popularity of Thierno by gender

Based on the last 29 years of data, Thierno is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 14 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Thierno.

Year Male Count Female Count
2024 14 0
2023 20 0
2022 15 0
2021 22 0
2020 14 0
2019 19 0
2018 5 0
2017 19 0
2016 9 0
2015 16 0
2014 10 0
2013 12 0
2012 13 0
2011 17 0
2010 16 0
2009 14 0
2008 13 0
2007 18 0
2006 16 0
2005 11 0
2004 13 0
2003 9 0
2002 14 0
2001 13 0
2000 14 0
1999 13 0
1998 8 0
1997 9 0
1996 5 0

The history of the first name Thierno

The name Thierno originates from the Mandinka and Fula languages of West Africa, particularly in the regions of Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, and Mali. It derives from the Arabic word "Thierno," which means "learned" or "scholar." This name gained prominence during the spread of Islam in West Africa, particularly between the 11th and 16th centuries.

In the medieval era, the title "Thierno" was bestowed upon Islamic scholars and religious leaders who had attained a high level of knowledge and wisdom in Islamic teachings. These individuals played a crucial role in the dissemination of Islamic education and the establishment of Quranic schools throughout the region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Thierno can be found in the historical accounts of the Malian Empire, which flourished between the 13th and 17th centuries. Several prominent Islamic scholars and rulers from this period bore the name Thierno, such as Thierno Souleymane Baal, a renowned scholar and teacher who lived in the 15th century.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the name Thierno gained further recognition in the region, particularly among the Fula people. Thierno Saidou Nourou Tall, a Fula scholar and religious leader from the 18th century, played a significant role in the spread of Islam and Islamic education in present-day Senegal and Gambia.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Thierno. These include Thierno Bâ, a Senegalese scholar and founder of the Mouride Islamic brotherhood, who lived in the late 19th century. Thierno Ganda Fèl, a 19th-century Fula scholar and military leader, is also known for his contributions to the preservation of Fula culture and language.

Another prominent figure was Thierno Amadou Barry, a 20th-century Guinean scholar, writer, and politician who played a crucial role in the country's independence movement. Thierno Birahim Tall, a Senegalese scholar and founder of the Tijaniyyah Islamic brotherhood in Senegal, was also a significant figure in the 19th century.

Thierno Mountaga Dah, a Guinean scholar and historian from the 20th century, made invaluable contributions to the preservation of the oral traditions and historical records of the Mandinka people.

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Thierno first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on August 18, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/thierno-meaning-and-history/.

"Thierno first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/thierno-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 18 August, 2025

Thierno first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/thierno-meaning-and-history/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.