Tyrann
A masculine name of Greek origin meaning "monarch" or "ruler".
Name Census estimates that about 131 living Americans carry the first name Tyrann. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Tyrann today is around 9 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tyrann births was 2013 (18 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tyrann. 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
131
~ 1 in 2,616,445 Americans
Peak year
2013
18 babies that year
Average age
9
years old
2023 SSA rank
#9,670
Tracked since 2012
Popularity
Tyrann: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Tyrann from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 96 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Tyrann remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Tyrann 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 Tyrann during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Tyranns live
Origin
Meaning and history of Tyrann
The name Tyrann is derived from the Ancient Greek word "tyrannos," which originally meant "sovereign" or "ruler." It is believed to have originated around the 6th century BCE in ancient Greece, a period marked by the rise of city-states and the emergence of powerful leaders known as "tyrants."
In ancient Greek literature, the term "tyrannos" was used to describe both benevolent and oppressive rulers. One of the earliest recorded mentions of the word can be found in the works of the Greek poet Archilochus, who lived around 680-645 BCE. He used the term to refer to the ruler Gyges of Lydia, who had seized power through unconventional means.
As the concept of tyranny evolved, the name Tyrann became associated with authoritarian rule and the abuse of power. In Plato's Republic, written around 375 BCE, the philosopher discussed the nature of tyranny and its detrimental effects on society. However, it's important to note that the ancient Greeks did not necessarily view tyranny as an inherently negative concept, as some tyrants were praised for their leadership and achievements.
One of the earliest known individuals to bear the name Tyrann was Tyrann of Ephesus, a Greek statesman and tyrant who ruled over the city of Ephesus in the 7th century BCE. Another notable figure was Tyrann of Callatis, a tyrant who ruled over the Greek colony of Callatis (modern-day Mangalia, Romania) in the 4th century BCE.
During the Roman era, the name Tyrann was less common, as the Romans viewed tyranny as a threat to their republican values. However, there are records of a Roman general named Tyrann who served under the Emperor Claudius in the 1st century CE.
In medieval Europe, the name Tyrann was rarely used, likely due to its negative connotations associated with oppressive rule. However, a few individuals did bear the name, such as Tyrann of Saxony, a minor nobleman who lived in the 11th century.
During the Renaissance period, the name Tyrann gained some popularity among scholars and humanists who were fascinated by ancient Greek culture. One notable figure was Tyrann Gratius, an Italian humanist and poet who lived in the 15th century.
More recently, in the 19th and 20th centuries, the name Tyrann has been used occasionally, although it remains relatively uncommon due to its association with tyranny and oppression. Some notable individuals who bore the name include Tyrann Mathieu, an American football player born in 1992, and Tyrann Lythgoe, a British actor born in 1929.
People
Tyrann + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tyrann 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
Tyrann: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tyrann?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 131 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tyrann 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 2,616,445 US residents.
Is Tyrann a common name?
We classify Tyrann as "Very Rare". It ranks above 68.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 132 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tyrann most popular?
The single biggest year for Tyrann was 2013, when 18 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tyrann is about 9 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Tyrann a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Tyrann 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.