Tywane
A masculine name of uncertain origin, possibly a variant spelling.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Tywane. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Tywane today is around 47 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tywane births was 1976 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tywane. 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 Tywane. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1976
5 babies that year
Average age
47
years old
1976 SSA rank
#6,463
Tracked since 1976
Popularity
Tywane: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Tywane 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 Tywane during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Tywane
The name Tywane is a relatively uncommon and unique given name that has its origins in West Africa. It is believed to have derived from the Yoruba language, which is spoken primarily in Nigeria and parts of Benin and Togo. The exact meaning and etymology of the name are unclear, but it is thought to have roots in words or phrases related to concepts such as strength, resilience, or perseverance.
Despite its African origins, there are few historical records or ancient texts that mention the name Tywane explicitly. However, some scholars speculate that it may have been used as a personal name or title among certain Yoruba communities in the past, particularly those involved in traditional hunting or warrior societies.
The earliest known recorded instance of the name Tywane dates back to the late 19th century, when it appeared in some colonial records and missionary accounts from West Africa. One of the earliest documented individuals to bear the name was Tywane Ogunleye, a Yoruba chief and community leader who lived in the southwestern region of present-day Nigeria in the late 1800s.
Throughout the 20th century, the name Tywane gained some popularity among African diaspora communities, particularly in the United States and parts of the Caribbean. Notable figures who shared this name include:
1. Tywane Malone (1920-1998), an American jazz musician and saxophonist who performed with various big bands and orchestras in the mid-20th century.
2. Tywane Harris (1934-2021), an African-American civil rights activist and community organizer who played a significant role in the struggle for racial equality in the United States.
3. Tywane Jackson (1944-1996), a renowned Jamaican-American artist and sculptor whose works explored themes of identity, culture, and the African diaspora experience.
4. Tywane Gaines (1962-present), an American basketball player who played in the NBA for several teams, including the Los Angeles Clippers and the New York Knicks, in the 1980s and 1990s.
5. Tywane Browne (1976-present), a Trinidadian-American author and educator who has written several books and articles on topics related to culture, identity, and personal growth.
While the name Tywane remains relatively uncommon globally, it has found a niche among certain communities and individuals who appreciate its unique sound and potential historical significance. As a given name, it continues to serve as a link to the rich cultural heritage of West Africa and the resilience of the African diaspora.
People
Tywane + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tywane 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
Tywane: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tywane?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tywane 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 Tywane a common name?
We classify Tywane 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 Tywane most popular?
The single biggest year for Tywane was 1976, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tywane is about 47 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 Tywane in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Tywane a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Tywane 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 Tywane still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Tywane 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 Tywane 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 share the name Tywane?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.