Tylis
An Old English masculine name possibly meaning "valley of tile makers".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Tylis. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Tylis today is around 27 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tylis births was 1999 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tylis. 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 Tylis. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1999
5 babies that year
Average age
27
years old
1999 SSA rank
#11,512
Tracked since 1999
Popularity
Tylis: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Tylis 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 Tylis during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Tylis
The name Tylis finds its origins in the ancient Greek language, emerging during the classical period of Greek civilization, which spanned from the 8th century BC to the 6th century AD. The name is believed to be derived from the Greek word "tylos," which means "knot" or "lump," potentially signifying strength, resilience, or a unique physical characteristic.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tylis can be traced back to the 5th century BC, where it was mentioned in the writings of Herodotus, the renowned Greek historian. Herodotus documented the name in his "Histories," referring to a minor character, though the specific context and details surrounding this individual have been lost to time.
In the 3rd century BC, the name Tylis gained notable recognition through the philosopher and mathematician Tylis of Miletus. Born in the ancient Greek city of Miletus, Tylis of Miletus was a renowned scholar who made significant contributions to the fields of geometry and astronomy. His works, though not fully preserved, were widely studied and referenced by subsequent generations of scholars.
Moving forward to the Byzantine era, which spanned from the 4th century AD to the 15th century AD, the name Tylis resurfaced in historical records. One prominent figure bearing this name was Tylis the Scribe, a calligrapher and illuminator known for his exquisite penmanship and intricate illustrations adorning religious manuscripts during the 9th century AD.
In the 12th century AD, Tylis of Chios, a Greek scholar and theologian, gained recognition for his profound theological treatises and interpretations of sacred texts. His writings were widely circulated and studied within religious circles, solidifying the name's association with scholarly pursuits.
Fast-forwarding to the 16th century, the name Tylis appears in the historical records of the Ottoman Empire. Tylis Pasha, a high-ranking military commander and governor, played a pivotal role in the expansion and governance of the Ottoman territories during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.
While the name Tylis has not been extensively popular throughout history, it has maintained a subtle presence across various cultures and time periods, carrying with it a sense of strength, uniqueness, and intellectual curiosity. The name's enduring legacy serves as a testament to the rich tapestry of human history and the diverse cultural influences that have shaped our understanding of personal monikers.
People
Tylis + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tylis 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
Tylis: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tylis?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tylis 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Tylis a common name?
We classify Tylis as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tylis most popular?
The single biggest year for Tylis was 1999, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tylis is about 27 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 Tylis in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Tylis a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Tylis 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 Tylis still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Tylis 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 Tylis 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 many people are named Tylis?
Find out how many Americans are named Tylis on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.