Tunesia
A girl's name of African origin with 45 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Tunisia (a country in North Africa)
Tunesia is a girl's baby name drawn from Tunisia, the North African country whose name derives from the capital Tunis — itself from the ancient city of Carthage, possibly from a Berber root meaning 'cape' or related to the Phoenician goddess Tanit. Geographical names used as given names carry the romance of place and travel.
Tunesia transforms a country name into a lyrical four-syllable girls' name, with the -ia ending giving it a classical femininity. It reflects a broader American tradition of using place names — particularly those with connections to heritage or aspiration — as given names for daughters.
EtymologyShow more
Names travel. They cross oceans, change spelling, shift pronunciation, and accumulate new associations with each culture that adopts them. Tunesia is rooted in the African tradition, but its presence in American naming since 1968 means it has been shaped by English phonetics, local customs, and the cultural context of the families who chose it.
Tunesia’s rarity (45 recorded births) may indicate it is strongly tied to a specific cultural community or family tradition, rather than part of the broader American naming mainstream.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Tunesia has 7+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1968.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 7 | #8975 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 33 | #8516 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 5 | #8134 | — |
The Story of Tunesia
A Gen X name
Peaking in 1976, Tunesia is a Gen X staple. Girls named Tunesia are most likely born between 1968 and 1983.
How rare is Tunesia?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Tunesia is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1968, peaked in the 1970s with 33 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(7 years, 1968–1983)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 7 | #8975 |
| 1979 | 6 | #10150 |
| 1976 | 8 | #7261 |
| 1975 | 7 | #7940 |
| 1974 | 7 | #7642 |
| 1972 | 5 | #9586 |
| 1968 | 5 | #8134 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1968–1983