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Name Lineage

    The first name Tai

    A unisex name from Chinese.

    Pronounced /taɪ/ 1 syllable Unisex Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    Chinese origin

    From the Hanyu Pinyin romanization of the Mandarin pronunciation of Chinese 邰 (Tái) and 斄 /𭤎 (Tái).

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 16 boys were named Tai, making it the 1,613th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2010, with 44 births (#699).

    02550 1996200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    759
    babies named Tai, 1996–2025
    #1,613
    rank in 2025
    2010
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Tai with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Tai at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 53 boys born in the United States were named Tai, the 2,536th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1980, when 159 were.

    0100200 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    4,937
    babies named Tai since 1880
    #2,536
    rank in 2025
    1980
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Famous people named Tai

    3 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Zhou Tai
      General serving warlord Sun Quan (died c.223)
    • Mai Tai Sing
      Actor (1923-2018)
    • Tai Hara
      Australian actor, born 1990

    Questions

    What does the name Tai mean?
    From the Hanyu Pinyin romanization of the Mandarin pronunciation of Chinese 邰 (Tái) and 斄 /𭤎 (Tái).
    What is the origin of the name Tai?
    From the Hanyu Pinyin romanization of the Mandarin pronunciation of Chinese 邰 (Tái) and 斄 /𭤎 (Tái).
    How popular is the name Tai?
    In 2025, 16 boys born in England and Wales were named Tai, ranking 1,613th. Its peak was 2010, with 44 births.
    Is Tai a boy's or a girl's name?
    Both. Of the 4,937 US babies named Tai since 1880, 37% were girls and 63% boys.
    When was Tai most popular?
    1980 in the United States, when 159 babies were named Tai, its highest rank at 947th.
    How do you pronounce Tai?
    Tai is /taɪ/, one syllable.
    Is Tai also a surname?
    Yes. Tai is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.