Tierney
Primarily a girl's name of Irish origin with 3,941 recorded births. Also given to 23 boys.
Meaning & Origin
A surname from Irish.
Tierney is a girl's and boy's baby name of Irish origin, from the Irish surname Ó Tiarnaigh, from tiarna (lord, master), meaning 'lordly' or 'descendant of the lord' — an Irish clan name with aristocratic bearing used as a given name.
With nearly 4,000 recorded births, Tierney has become particularly popular as a girls' name in America. Actress Gene Tierney (1920–1991), one of Hollywood's great beauties who starred in Laura and Leave Her to Heaven, gave the name its most glamorous association. The name has an elegant, aristocratic quality befitting its Irish 'lord' meaning, alongside the soft, flowing sound that has made Irish surname-names so popular for girls.
EtymologyShow more
The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Tierney's final sounds are bright, approachable — giving the name a friendly, informal feel. In English-language naming, many feminine names end on open vowels or soft consonants, creating a melodic, approachable quality. Tierney follows that feminine pattern.
Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Tierney'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
Tierney was #1893 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #6589, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 152 | #4879 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 588 | #2966 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 921 | #2062 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 1,208 | #1417 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 681 | #1856 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 186 | #3944 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 119 | #4332 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 86 | #2428 | — |
The Story of Tierney
A Millennial name
Peaking in 1993, Tierney is a Millennial-era classic. Girls named Tierney are most likely born between 1983 and 2003.
How rare is Tierney?
Only about 1 in every 200,000 babies born in 2024 was named Tierney — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1957, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 1990s with 1,208 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Tierney by the numbers
- Would fill 82 school buses
- Meeting one Tierney per day would take 10.8 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(68 years, 1957–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 18 | #6589 |
| 2023 | 34 | #4262 |
| 2022 | 23 | #5615 |
| 2021 | 30 | #4598 |
| 2020 | 47 | #3331 |
| 2019 | 51 | #3164 |
| 2018 | 47 | #3393 |
| 2017 | 49 | #3296 |
| 2016 | 62 | #2795 |
| 2015 | 48 | #3384 |
| 2014 | 64 | #2736 |
| 2013 | 56 | #3002 |
| 2012 | 63 | #2800 |
| 2011 | 89 | #2155 |
| 2010 | 59 | #2937 |
| 2009 | 100 | #2059 |
| 2008 | 86 | #2293 |
| 2007 | 74 | #2539 |
| 2006 | 82 | #2326 |
| 2005 | 77 | #2340 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Tierney as a Boy's Name
While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Tierney has also been given to 23 boys in the U.S. since 1976.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tierney a boy's or girl's name?
When was Tierney most popular?
How popular is the name Tierney?
Can Tierney be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1957–2024