Tin
A boy's name of Vietnamese origin with 436 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
a diminutive of the male given name Kaourantin
Tin is a boy's baby name of Vietnamese origin, meaning 'think' or 'message,' from the Vietnamese word for communication and thoughtfulness. Single-syllable Vietnamese names carry tonal meaning that gives them depth beyond their brevity.
Tin is crisp and direct — a name that sounds clear and purposeful. For Vietnamese American families, it preserves cultural heritage in its most distilled form, connecting a child to their ancestral language through the simplest possible expression.
EtymologyShow more
Tin is built from 3 letters and one syllable — a compact structure that favors quick recognition and easy recall. Within the Vietnamese naming tradition, this brevity is common among names that have been worn down through centuries of use, shedding syllables along the way.
The interplay of consonants and vowels in Tin creates its characteristic sharp, distinct quality. One-syllable names stand out for their directness. Every sound carries weight, making pronunciation and first impressions immediate.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Tin has 40+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1979.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 5 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 59 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 132 | — |
| 1990s | 141 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 93 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 6 | — |
The Story of Tin
A Millennial name
Peaking in 1993, Tin is a Millennial-era classic. Boys named Tin are most likely born between 1983 and 2003.
How rare is Tin?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Tin is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1979, peaked in the 1990s with 141 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Tin by the numbers
- Would fill 9 school buses
- Meeting one Tin per day would take 1.2 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(40 years, 1979–2020)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 5 | #13856 |
| 2018 | 6 | #11995 |
| 2017 | 6 | #12091 |
| 2016 | 6 | #12026 |
| 2014 | 8 | #9539 |
| 2013 | 11 | #7498 |
| 2012 | 7 | #10648 |
| 2011 | 6 | #12132 |
| 2010 | 9 | #8722 |
| 2009 | 9 | #8925 |
| 2008 | 10 | #8246 |
| 2007 | 10 | #8107 |
| 2006 | 17 | #5277 |
| 2005 | 13 | #6177 |
| 2004 | 17 | #4988 |
| 2003 | 13 | #5852 |
| 2002 | 14 | #5371 |
| 2001 | 16 | #4872 |
| 2000 | 13 | #5555 |
| 1999 | 9 | #7067 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tin a boy's or girl's name?
When was Tin most popular?
How popular is the name Tin?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1979–2020