How popular is the baby name Tanith in the United States right now? How popular was it historically? Use the popularity graph and data table below to find out! Plus, see all the blog posts that mention the name Tanith.

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Popularity of the baby name Tanith


Posts that mention the name Tanith

Where did the baby name Tunisia come from in 1943?

Tank in Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, in May 1943
Tanks in the capital of Tunisia, 1943

The place-name Tunisia has been used as a baby name for decades now. Long before it started appearing in the U.S. baby name data regularly in the mid-1960s, though, it popped up for the first time in 1943:

  • 1945: unlisted
  • 1944: unlisted
  • 1943: 8 baby girls named Tunisia [debut]
  • 1942: unlisted
  • 1941: unlisted

Why?

Because Tunisia was in the news quite a bit that year, thanks to the Tunisia Campaign of World War II.

The Axis had seized control of capital city Tunis in November of 1942. After a series of battles, the Allies freed the city in May of 1943 and drove the Axis out of Africa.

No one knows exactly how Tunis was named, but theories abound. One theory connects it to the Phoenician goddess Tanith. Another suggests it comes from a Berber verb meaning “to camp” or “to lie down.”

(John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie also penned the jazz standard “A Night in Tunisia” in the early ’40s.)

Sources: Tunisia – Wikipedia, SSA
Image: The British Army in Tunisia 1943 – Imperial War Museums

Baby name needed: Boy or girl name for Phoenix’s sibling

A reader named Lisa writes:

I have a 2 year old boy named Phoenix Edward Brooks*, and recently found out I’m pregnant again! The baby will be born in June, and we’re already racking our brains for names. We like “different” names – like Phoenix – who was named after the mythical bird – and would like something that goes well with Phoenix. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

At the moment she likes Leo/Leonardo for a boy, but doesn’t have any favorite girl names.

Here are some ideas to kick things off:

Boy namesGirl names
Alistair
August
Deacon
Evander
Gideon
Griffin
Horatio
Ignatius
Jude
Malachi
Matthias
Maverick
Raphael		Briar
Daphne
Ione
Keziah
Magnolia
Penelope
Saffron
Saskia
Tanith
Tatiana
Tirzah
Verity
Xanthe

What other names would you suggest for Phoenix’s younger brother or sister?

*The last name isn’t Brooks, but does start with b and have one syllable.

Baby name needed: Girl name like Tatum

A reader named Kate writes:

I am currently pregnant with my first baby. We do not know whether a boy or girl yet, but we are brainstorming names. I love the girl’s name Tatum, but my best friend’s daughter has that name. Can you think of any similar girl’s names I might like?

I get this question every once in a while — probably because Tatum is such an idiosyncratic name.

Sloane has always been my default answer. But it only works for non-UK babies, thanks to the Sloane Rangers.

Other names that come to mind are:

Ainsley
Astrid
Beatrix
Blair
Blythe
Bryony
Cleo
Darcy		Deirdre
Hazel
Imogen
Kendall
Maeve
Meredith
Miriam
Morgan		Piper
Quinn
Reese
Rory
Rowena
Sybil
Tamar
Tanith

What other Tatum-like names can you come up with for Kate?