The unusual name Taysom debuted in the U.S. baby name data in 2012:
- 2019: 75 baby boys named Taysom
- 17 (23%) in Louisiana, 14 (19%) in Utah, 5 (7%) in Nebraska and 5 (7%) in Oregon
- 2018: 19 baby boys named Taysom
- 6 (32%) in Utah
- 2017: 25 baby boys named Taysom
- 14 (56%) in Utah and 6 (24%) in Idaho
- 2016: 24 baby boys named Taysom
- 8 (33%) in Utah
- 2015: 42 baby boys named Taysom
- 16 (38%) in Utah and 6 (14%) in Idaho
- 2014: 32 baby boys named Taysom
- 15 (47%) in Utah
- 2013: 24 baby boys named Taysom
- 14 (58%) in Utah
- 2012: 10 baby boys named Taysom [debut]
- 6 (60%) in Utah
- 2011: unlisted
- 2010: unlisted
As you can see by the numbers, usage was particularly high in the state of Utah until last year, when Louisiana suddenly became the state with the most baby Taysoms.
Where did the name come from?
Football player Taysom Hill, who was born and raised in Idaho. Hill played for Brigham Young University from 2012 to 2016, then for the New Orleans Saints from 2017 onward. (He wasn’t on the field full-time until the 2018 season, though, which explains why the usage of “Taysom” in Louisiana didn’t rise until 2019.)
Hill is officially a quarterback, but he has played in various offensive positions professionally, leading the Saints to dub him the “Swiss army knife” of their offense.
So, how did Taysom Hill get his name?
Some sources say he was named after a park in his hometown. Others say his name came from his family tree. In either case, “Taysom” was originally a surname. The surname seems to be a variant of Tyson, which has several potential derivations, including the Old French word tison, meaning “firebrand.”
What are your thoughts on the baby name Taysom?
Sources:
- Hanks, Patrick. (Ed.) Dictionary of American Family Names. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003.
- New Orleans Saints 2018 season recap: Taysom Hill
- Taysom Hill – Wikipedia
Image: Adapted from Taysom Hill playing for the Saints by GrabitMike under CC BY-SA 4.0.
