Tailor
Primarily a girl's name of Old French origin with 970 recorded births. Also given to 161 boys.
Meaning & Origin
A surname originating as an occupation for a tailor.
Tailor is a girl's and boy's baby name of Old French origin, a variant spelling of Taylor — from the Old French tailleur meaning 'one who cuts cloth,' an occupational surname that has become one of America's most popular crossover girl's names. The -ilor spelling creates a small visual distinction.
Taylor has been among the most successful masculine-to-feminine name transitions in American naming history. Tailor's alternate spelling gives the name a fresh visual identity while keeping the same confident, surname-style energy that made Taylor so beloved for girls in the 1990s and beyond.
EtymologyShow more
Tailor first shows up in U.S. Social Security records in 1988. First appearing in the 1980s, Tailor emerged during a period of rapid naming innovation in America, when parents increasingly created new names or adopted them from global cultures.
Its Old French classification suggests a path from old french linguistic traditions into American usage, though the specific route — whether through immigration, literature, or cultural exchange — would require deeper historical research.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Tailor was #4480 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #15018, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 19 | #14461 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 107 | #11059 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 323 | #4566 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 507 | #2851 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 14 | #10604 | — |
The Story of Tailor
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 1997, Tailor is a name that defines a generation. Girls named Tailor are most likely born between 1988 and 2007.
How rare is Tailor?
Only about 1 in every 600,000 babies born in 2024 was named Tailor — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1988, peaked in the 1990s with 507 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Tailor by the numbers
- Would fill 20 school buses
- Meeting one Tailor per day would take 2.7 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(35 years, 1988–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | #15018 |
| 2021 | 6 | #15050 |
| 2020 | 7 | #13316 |
| 2019 | 7 | #13656 |
| 2018 | 7 | #13649 |
| 2017 | 13 | #8732 |
| 2016 | 10 | #10773 |
| 2015 | 14 | #8388 |
| 2014 | 10 | #10865 |
| 2013 | 12 | #9556 |
| 2012 | 18 | #7111 |
| 2011 | 10 | #11109 |
| 2010 | 6 | #16752 |
| 2009 | 26 | #5520 |
| 2008 | 27 | #5420 |
| 2007 | 19 | #7066 |
| 2006 | 34 | #4350 |
| 2005 | 36 | #4024 |
| 2004 | 31 | #4480 |
| 2003 | 30 | #4403 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Tailor as a Boy's Name
Though more common for girls, Tailor has a notable history as a boy's name too, with 161 births since 1989.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tailor a boy's or girl's name?
When was Tailor most popular?
How popular is the name Tailor?
Can Tailor be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1988–2024