Tennessee is a unique and distinctive given name of American origin. It is derived from the state of Tennessee, which was named after the Cherokee village of Tanasi. The name Tanasi comes from the Cherokee word "Tanasi," meaning "meeting place." Therefore, the name Tennessee literally means "meeting place."
The state of Tennessee was admitted to the Union in 1796 and became the 16th state. As a result, the name Tennessee has been associated with American history and culture for over two centuries.
In terms of its usage as a given name, Tennessee is relatively rare compared to other names. According to data from the Social Security Administration, it has never ranked among the top 1000 most popular boy or girl names in the United States. This contributes to its unique and distinctive character.
Some notable individuals with the name Tennessee include singer-songwriter Tennessee Ernie Ford, actor Tennessee Thomas (better known by his stage name Knoxville), and musician Tennessee Williams (full name: Walter Enoch Williams).
In conclusion, the name Tennessee is a rare and distinct given name of American origin. It carries historical significance as it is derived from the state of Tennessee, which has been part of the United States since 1796. Its meaning, "meeting place," adds to its unique appeal. Despite being relatively uncommon, several notable individuals have carried this name throughout history.
The name Tennessee has been given to a total of 938 babies in the United States since 1880. While it started out strong with 5 births in its first year, there were fluctuations in popularity over time.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the name's popularity seemed to peak every decade or so. For instance, there were 13 births in 1902, 12 in 1904, and a peak of 15 births in 1915. However, after 1927, the number of annual births with the name Tennessee consistently fell to single digits until the late 1990s.
The name saw a resurgence in popularity in the new millennium. From 1997 onwards, there were at least five births each year, reaching double-digit figures again in several years like 2005 (10 births), 2007 (11 births), and 2013 (16 births). The highest number of births in recent years was recorded in 2017 with 32 babies named Tennessee.
Despite these fluctuations, the name Tennessee has maintained a consistent presence among baby names in the United States over the past century. It is interesting to observe how its popularity has evolved over time, with periods of peak popularity followed by periods of relative obscurity. This data provides insight into the trends and patterns of naming practices in American culture.