Tawn
Primarily a girl's name of Old English origin with 270 recorded births. Also given to 32 boys.
Meaning & Origin
A tan.
Tawn is a girl's and boy's baby name of Old English origin, a variant of Tawny, from the Old French tané, meaning 'tan-colored, golden-brown,' the warm color of sun-kissed skin or autumn grasses. Color names have been used as given names since at least the Victorian era, and Tawny carries the warmth of its golden hue.
Tawn is the stripped-down, one-syllable form — direct, warm, and evoking the earthy, golden quality of its color meaning without any ornament.
EtymologyShow more
Phonetically, Tawn belongs to a cluster of names characterized by their sharp, distinct ending — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close. At one syllable, it has a punchy, memorable cadence that makes an immediate impression.
Within the Old English naming tradition, names with similar sound structures often share underlying etymological patterns. Exploring Old English names on this site may surface connections that illuminate Tawn’s linguistic neighborhood.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Tawn has 29+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1948.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 20 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 90 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 108 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 34 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 18 | — |
The Story of Tawn
A Gen X name
Peaking in 1969, Tawn is a Gen X staple. Girls named Tawn are most likely born between 1959 and 1979.
How rare is Tawn?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Tawn is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1948, peaked in the 1960s with 108 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Tawn by the numbers
- Would fill 6 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(29 years, 1948–1983)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 7 | #8930 |
| 1981 | 5 | #12009 |
| 1980 | 8 | #8102 |
| 1979 | 5 | #11796 |
| 1978 | 7 | #8471 |
| 1976 | 10 | #6002 |
| 1975 | 7 | #7892 |
| 1974 | 9 | #6215 |
| 1973 | 9 | #6021 |
| 1972 | 13 | #4503 |
| 1971 | 15 | #4107 |
| 1970 | 15 | #4022 |
| 1969 | 28 | #2510 |
| 1968 | 11 | #4463 |
| 1967 | 6 | #6723 |
| 1966 | 9 | #4827 |
| 1965 | 11 | #4181 |
| 1964 | 10 | #4602 |
| 1963 | 8 | #5247 |
| 1962 | 12 | #3990 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Tawn as a Boy's Name
Though more common for girls, Tawn has a notable history as a boy's name too, with 32 births since 1962.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tawn a boy's or girl's name?
When was Tawn most popular?
How popular is the name Tawn?
Can Tawn be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1948–1983