Tilman
A masculine name of Germanic origin representing a brave protector or defender.
Name Census estimates that about 378 living Americans carry the first name Tilman. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Tilman today is around 52 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tilman births was 1926 (26 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tilman. 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
378
~ 1 in 906,758 Americans
Peak year
1926
26 babies that year
Average age
52
years old
2023 SSA rank
#10,690
Tracked since 1881
Popularity
Tilman: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Tilman from the 1880s through to the 2020s, spanning 15 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 202 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Tilman 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 Tilman during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Tilmans live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas recorded the most babies named Tilman, while Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 11 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Tilman
The name Tilman has its origins in the German language. It is a compound name derived from the Old Germanic elements "til" meaning "resolute" or "steadfast" and "man" meaning "man" or "person". Together, the name can be interpreted as meaning "resolute man" or "steadfast person".
The earliest known recorded use of the name Tilman dates back to the Middle Ages in Germanic-speaking regions of Europe. It was a common name among nobility and commoners alike during this time period.
One of the earliest known historical figures to bear the name Tilman was Tilman of Remagen, a German monk who lived in the 12th century. He is known for his writings on theology and philosophy.
Another notable Tilman from history was Tilman Riemenschneider, a German sculptor and woodcarver who lived from 1460 to 1531. He is considered one of the greatest sculptors of the German Renaissance period.
In the 16th century, Tilman Susato was a renowned composer and music publisher from the Low Countries. He was active in Antwerp and published numerous works by other composers during his lifetime.
Fast forward to the 19th century, and we have Tilman Riemenschneider, a German architect and civil engineer who was born in 1818. He is known for his work on the construction of several important bridges and buildings in Germany.
Lastly, Tilman Fertitta is a modern-day American businessman and entrepreneur who was born in 1957. He is the owner of several hospitality and entertainment companies, including the Landry's restaurant chain and the Golden Nugget casino and hotel chain.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Tilman. The name has maintained its popularity in German-speaking regions and has also spread to other parts of the world over time.
People
Tilman + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tilman 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
Tilman: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tilman?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 378 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tilman 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 906,758 US residents.
Is Tilman a common name?
We classify Tilman as "Very Rare". It ranks above 81.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 930 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tilman most popular?
The single biggest year for Tilman was 1926, when 26 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tilman is about 52 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Tilman a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Tilman 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.
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.