Tank
A boy's name of American English origin with 163 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A city in Tank district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Tank is a boy's baby name of American English origin, from the English word for an armored military vehicle — or used informally for someone of considerable size and strength. As a given name, it sits alongside names like Bear, Rex, and Titan — one-word declarations of physical power.
Blunt and unforgettable, Tank is a name for parents who want something that stops people in their tracks — a name that arrives the way its namesake does: unmissably.
EtymologyShow more
The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Tank's final sounds are sharp, distinct — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close. In English-language naming, masculine names frequently end on harder consonants or closed syllables, creating a sense of decisiveness and strength. Tank follows that masculine pattern.
Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Tank's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Tank has 19+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1916.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 29 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 91 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 38 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 5 | — |
The Story of Tank
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 2010, Tank is a name that defines a generation. Boys named Tank are most likely born between 2000 and 2020.
How rare is Tank?
Only about 1 in every 720,000 babies born in 2024 was named Tank — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1916, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2010s with 91 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Tank by the numbers
- Would fill 3 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(19 years, 1916–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | #13960 |
| 2022 | 7 | #10719 |
| 2021 | 7 | #10662 |
| 2020 | 10 | #7988 |
| 2019 | 6 | #11967 |
| 2018 | 5 | #13854 |
| 2017 | 9 | #8751 |
| 2016 | 6 | #11983 |
| 2015 | 12 | #7020 |
| 2014 | 6 | #11939 |
| 2013 | 14 | #6202 |
| 2012 | 7 | #10625 |
| 2011 | 12 | #6954 |
| 2010 | 14 | #6326 |
| 2009 | 10 | #8237 |
| 2008 | 9 | #8923 |
| 2007 | 11 | #7529 |
| 2003 | 8 | #8537 |
| 1916 | 5 | #4456 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tank a boy's or girl's name?
When was Tank most popular?
How popular is the name Tank?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1916–2024