Turquoise
Derived from the French word for the opaque gemstone of a blue-green color.
Name Census estimates that about 511 living Americans carry the first name Turquoise. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Turquoise today is around 39 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Turquoise births was 1987 (63 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Turquoise. 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
511
~ 1 in 670,752 Americans
Peak year
1987
63 babies that year
Average age
39
years old
2011 SSA rank
#19,394
Tracked since 1977
Popularity
Turquoise: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Turquoise from the 1970s through to the 2010s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 317 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Turquoise 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 Turquoise during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Turquoises live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, California recorded the most babies named Turquoise, while California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 46 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Turquoise
The name Turquoise originated from the French word "turquoise," which in turn derives from the Old French "torques" and the Medieval Latin "turquesus." These terms refer to the precious opaque gemstone of the same name, which has a distinctive bluish-green color. The name gained popularity as a given name, particularly in English-speaking countries, due to its association with the gemstone and its beautiful hue.
The gemstone turquoise has been prized for centuries by various cultures around the world, including ancient civilizations in Egypt, Persia, and the Americas. It was often used in jewelry, decorative objects, and even as a protective amulet. The name Turquoise, therefore, carries a sense of rarity, beauty, and perhaps even mysticism.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Turquoise being used as a given name dates back to the late 19th century. In 1887, American writer and activist Turquoise Nadir was born in New York City. She was known for her work promoting education and social justice.
Another notable figure with the name Turquoise was Turquoise Trail (1913-1976), a Native American artist and potter from the Pueblo tribe in New Mexico. Her works celebrated the rich cultural traditions of her people and helped preserve their artistic heritage.
In the literary world, Turquoise Atkins (1922-2020) was a British novelist and children's book author. Her works, including the popular "Pongwiffy" series, delighted young readers with their imaginative tales and vibrant characters.
Turquoise LeJon (born 1986) is a contemporary American singer and songwriter known for her soulful R&B and neo-soul music. Her powerful vocals and thoughtful lyrics have garnered her critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base.
Turquoise Humphries (born 1994) is a Canadian basketball player who has represented her country in international competitions. Her athleticism and dedication to the sport have made her a rising star in the world of women's basketball.
While the name Turquoise may have originated from a gemstone, it has taken on a life of its own as a unique and intriguing given name. Its association with beauty, rarity, and cultural significance has made it a popular choice for parents seeking a distinctive and meaningful name for their child.
People
Turquoise + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Turquoise 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
Turquoise: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Turquoise?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 511 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Turquoise 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 670,752 US residents.
Is Turquoise a common name?
We classify Turquoise as "Very Rare". It ranks above 84.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 539 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Turquoise most popular?
The single biggest year for Turquoise was 1987, when 63 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Turquoise is about 39 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Turquoise a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Turquoise in the SSA data are female. 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.