Tijay
Of Arabic origin, it potentially means "a crown" or "a royal diadem".
Name Census estimates that about 11 living Americans carry the first name Tijay. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 54.5% of registrations being male. The average person named Tijay today is around 23 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tijay births was 2004 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tijay. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Tijay. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
11
~ 1 in 31,159,485 Americans
Peak year
2004
6 babies that year
Average age
23
years old
2004 SSA rank
#11,215
Tracked since 2000
Gender
Gender distribution for Tijay
Tijay is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 11 total registrations, 6 (54.5%) were male and 5 (45.5%) were female.
Tijay as a male name
- Ranked #11,215 in 2004
- 6 male births in 2004
- Peak: 2004 (6 births)
Tijay as a female name
- Ranked #17,424 in 2000
- 5 female births in 2000
- Peak: 2000 (5 births)
Popularity
Tijay: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Tijay 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 Tijay during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6 | 5 | 11 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Tijay
The name Tijay originates from the ancient Mayan civilization, which thrived in present-day Mexico and Central America between the 3rd and 9th centuries AD. It is believed to be derived from the Mayan word "tij," meaning "to dance" or "to celebrate." The name was likely bestowed upon children born during significant festivals or celebrations.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tijay can be found in the hieroglyphic inscriptions of the ancient Mayan city of Palenque, dating back to the 7th century AD. These inscriptions mention a ruler named Tijay Ahau, who reigned over the city during a period of cultural and architectural prosperity.
In the 12th century, a famous Mayan scribe and scholar known as Tijay Quiché recorded a comprehensive codex detailing the history, mythology, and traditions of the Mayan people. This invaluable work, known as the Popol Vuh, has become a crucial source of knowledge about the Mayan civilization.
During the 16th century, a renowned Mayan leader and diplomat named Tijay Itzá played a pivotal role in negotiating peaceful relations between the Mayan kingdoms and the Spanish conquistadors. His efforts helped preserve many aspects of Mayan culture and prevented further bloodshed.
In the 19th century, a Mayan archaeologist and explorer named Tijay Chac-Xib gained recognition for his groundbreaking discoveries and excavations of ancient Mayan sites. His work contributed significantly to our understanding of Mayan architecture, art, and daily life.
Another notable figure with the name Tijay was a 20th-century Mayan artist named Tijay Tzul (1920-2005). Tzul was celebrated for his vibrant paintings and murals that depicted traditional Mayan ceremonies, customs, and mythological figures. His works helped preserve and promote Mayan cultural heritage.
While the name Tijay has its roots in the ancient Mayan civilization, it has transcended its cultural boundaries and gained popularity in various parts of the world. However, its historical significance and connection to the rich Mayan culture remain an integral part of its legacy.
People
Tijay + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tijay 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
Tijay: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tijay?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 11 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tijay 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 31,159,485 US residents.
Is Tijay a common name?
We classify Tijay as "Very Rare". It ranks above 30.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 11 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tijay most popular?
The single biggest year for Tijay was 2004, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tijay is about 23 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 Tijay in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Tijay a male name?
Yes, 54.5% of people registered as Tijay in the SSA data are male. 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 Tijay still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Tijay 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 Tijay 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 common is the name Tijay?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many Americans are named Tijay at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.