Meaning & Origin
A Scottish surname transferred from the nickname, originally a nickname for a cheerful or lively person.
Tait is a boy's and girl's baby name of Old Norse origin, from the Old Norse teitr meaning 'cheerful, glad, merry.' It arrived in Scotland as a Viking-era surname and became a given name in American usage through the tradition of surname-to-first-name transfer.
Tait has a brisk, monosyllabic energy that parents who love names like Reid, Beau, and Rhett will immediately appreciate. With over 1,200 recorded births, it has real traction. Its meaning — cheerful — is refreshingly simple and aspirational, a one-word wish for a child's temperament.