Total births
1,188
Unisex name · since 1913
Tennyson
1,188 babies named Tennyson in U.S. Social Security records since 1913, with the highest year being 2014. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- #3801
- among boys today
- 1,188
- born since 1913
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 73%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Tennyson is the #3801 most popular unisex name in the U.S. today, with 1,188 recorded since 1913.
Social Security Administration records show Tennyson recorded 1,188 times among boys since 1913, holding rank #3801 nationally today, ahead of 73% of boys, peaking in the 2010s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1913 to 2025.
- #3801 among boys today
- 1,188 born since 1913
- 2010s peak decade
- 73% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Tennyson is currently the #3801 unisex name in America, more common than 73% of boys - 1,188 born since 1913, peaking in the 2010s.
- #3801
- among boys today
- 1,188
- born since 1913
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 73%
- more common than other boys
Tennyson vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#3801
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 73% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
34% of everyone ever named Tennyson was born in this single decade.
2014
Single peak year
48 babies were named Tennyson in 2014 - its busiest year on record.
How Tennyson compares
1,188 Top 28% higher than 72% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Tennyson's all-time total is 3x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Tennyson | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,188 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 48 | 23 | 22,252 |
Tennyson's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Tennyson's SSA record in two at 1978 and the more recent half accounts for 76% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 24%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1913, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2014 peak of 48, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Tennyson at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2014
Current rank
#3,801
Active since
1913
Tennyson popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1913–2025
- Peak year (2014)
- 48
- Annual births at peak, across 113 years of records
Tennyson popularity over time - girls
398 total births recorded since 2003 (Tennyson as girls' name)
Tennyson by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Tennyson's strongest decade.
401 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 34% of all-time use.
Tennyson births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s 60
1910s
60 births
- 1920s 64
1920s
64 births
- 1930s 35
1930s
35 births
- 1940s 40
1940s
40 births
- 1950s 36
1950s
36 births
- 1960s 19
1960s
19 births
- 1970s 50
1970s
50 births
- 1980s 18
1980s
18 births
- 1990s 95
1990s
95 births
- 2000s
2000s
207 births
- 2010s
2010s
401 births
- 2020s
2020s
163 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 401 births (34% of all-time use).
How Tennyson compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Tennyson's total volume
Tennyson vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Tennyson by state
Where Tennyson concentrates geographically, total births since 1913
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 44 | 3.7% |
| #2 | Texas | | 41 | 3.5% |
| #3 | Colorado | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #4 | North Carolina | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #5 | Utah | | 5 | 0.4% |
California share of Tennyson's total US births 3.7%
Even split
44 of 1,188 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 5 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Tennyson? ▼
Tennyson has been given to 1,188 babies in the U.S. since 1913, according to SSA data. Among boys, it ranks #3801 as of the latest data. 48 babies were born in 2014, its single highest year.
When was Tennyson most popular? ▼
Tennyson was most popular in the 2010s decade with 401 total births. The single peak year was 2014.
Where is Tennyson most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Tennyson are California (44 births), Texas (41 births), Colorado (5 births).
Is Tennyson a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Tennyson is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 1,188 births, and as a girl's name it has 398 births.
How long has the name Tennyson been used? ▼
Records for Tennyson go back to 1913, giving 113 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Tennyson? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Tenzin, Tennessee, Teng, Tenoch, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Tennyson's data
- Tennyson's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (401 total births) through the 2020s (163) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Tennysons (44 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Tennyson
Nearby Names Like Tennyson
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Tennyson
Tenzin Boy
#2278 1,653 births
Tennessee Boy
#7489 381 births
Teng Boy
354 births
Tenoch Boy
#7541 273 births
Tennis Boy
202 births
Compare Tennyson side by side: Tennyson vs Tenzin Tennyson vs Tennessee Tennyson vs Teng
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Tennyson
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1913–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Tennyson: #3801 Unisex Name - 1,188 Births, Peak 2014." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/tennyson. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Tennyson draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.