Tish
A girl's name of Latin origin with 797 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A diminutive of the female given name Letitia.
Tish is a girl's baby name of Latin origin, a diminutive of Letitia, from the Latin laetitia, meaning 'happiness' or 'joy.' Tish emerged as one of several informal shortenings of Letitia alongside Lettie and Tita.
Tish has the bright, one-syllable energy of mid-century American nicknames — direct, friendly, and immediately warm. It found its way into popular culture through various characters, giving it a slightly retro but charming quality that works well as a standalone name.
EtymologyShow more
The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Tish's final sounds are sharp, distinct — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close. In English-language naming, many feminine names end on open vowels or soft consonants, creating a melodic, approachable quality. Tish breaks from that pattern, giving it a more distinctive edge.
Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Tish'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
Tish has 42+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1938.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 54 | #8145 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 283 | #3085 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 275 | #2409 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 142 | #3316 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 38 | #4268 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 5 | #4940 | — |
The Story of Tish
A Gen X name
Peaking in 1971, Tish is a Gen X staple. Girls named Tish are most likely born between 1961 and 1981.
How rare is Tish?
With 797 total births on record, Tish remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1938, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 1970s with 283 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Tish by the numbers
- Would fill 17 school buses
- Meeting one Tish per day would take 2.2 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(42 years, 1938–1988)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 5 | #13750 |
| 1984 | 11 | #6262 |
| 1983 | 10 | #6672 |
| 1982 | 10 | #6856 |
| 1981 | 11 | #6292 |
| 1980 | 7 | #9035 |
| 1979 | 13 | #5404 |
| 1978 | 16 | #4440 |
| 1977 | 31 | #2709 |
| 1976 | 24 | #3089 |
| 1975 | 25 | #2959 |
| 1974 | 34 | #2341 |
| 1973 | 25 | #2826 |
| 1972 | 27 | #2674 |
| 1971 | 63 | #1556 |
| 1970 | 25 | #2848 |
| 1969 | 33 | #2245 |
| 1968 | 21 | #2867 |
| 1967 | 25 | #2488 |
| 1966 | 29 | #2246 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tish a boy's or girl's name?
When was Tish most popular?
How popular is the name Tish?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1938–1988