Tio

A boy's name of Spanish origin with 12 recorded U.S. births.

Boy's nameRare nameNot ranked recently

Meaning & Origin

Tio sits in the vintage zone of American naming: first recorded in 1983, peaking in 1983, with 12 total births across its history.

The open, approachable quality of its ending — ending on a vowel softens the overall impression — keeps the name compact and easy to pair with longer middle names or surnames.

Tio is not in the current top 1,000 boy names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.

Tio is a boy's baby name of Spanish origin meaning 'uncle,' an affectionate family term occasionally used as a given name in Hispanic communities.

EtymologyShow more

Tio appeared in SSA records in 1983, placing it in the modern era of American naming — a period when parents increasingly began breaking from generational naming patterns, experimenting with spelling, and treating naming as a form of creative self-expression. Its Spanish roots may have been the starting point, adapted or respelled to fit contemporary American tastes.

With only 12 recorded births, Tio has not been widely studied in naming literature — its story belongs primarily to the families who chose it.

At a Glance

Unranked

Current Rank

Total births

Since 1983

1983

Peak year

12 births

Compare Tio with another name

Popularity Over Time

Tio has 1+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1983.

First appeared: 1983Peak: 1983 (12 births)

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Tio
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
1980s	12	#3615	—

The Story of Tio

A Millennial name

Peaking in 1983, Tio is a Millennial-era classic. Boys named Tio are most likely born between 1983 and 1983.

How rare is Tio?

With fewer than 500 recorded births, Tio is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1983, peaked in the 1980s with 12 births that decade.

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(1 years, 1983–1983)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Tio
Year	Births	Rank	Change
1983	12	#3615	—

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tio a boy's or girl's name?

Tio is primarily a boy's name.

When was Tio most popular?

Tio reached its peak popularity in 1983 with 12 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Tio?

Tio is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 12 babies in the U.S. since 1983. Its peak was in 1983.

Explore More

By Length3-letter names By OriginSpanish names By EndingNames in -o TrendingRising names RankingsFull rankings

Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1983–1983

Tio