Names › Boys' names › T › Tate
Tate
Meaning: cheerful; Tata’s name · Origin: English · Gender: usually a boy's name
Origin & history
Tate comes from an English surname derived from the Old English personal name Tata. It is sometimes connected with a word meaning 'cheerful' in later usage.
Popularity of Tate in the US, 1880–2025
2025: 1,862 US baby boys named Tate — #193 for boys · Peak: 1,862 in 2025 · 1950: fewer than 5 · 2000: 547 · 2020: 898
Source: US Social Security Administration (SSA) national baby-name data, 1880–2025 (names.zip). Counts are babies of that gender given exactly this spelling each year; SSA leaves out a name in any year with fewer than 5 births.
How to pronounce Tate
TAYT · IPA /teɪt/ (common American English pronunciation)
Language of origin
English surname — cheerful (Old Norse / Old English tradition)
How the meaning and use of Tate developed
Tate comes from an English surname with an Old Norse personal-name root often interpreted as cheerful; it is also used as a short modern name.
Related names from the same root
Sibling names that go well with Tate
Sister: Blake · Stevie
Brother: Ace · Xander
Our editorial suggestions — similar era, style and length — chosen from names with full pages on this site.
Nicknames
T
Tate name art
A free preview of a printable “Tate” poster with its meaning — great for a nursery, a birthday or a gift.
Choose two more names (suggestions can be edited):
Enter your email to download a 900×1200 PNG with a small site footer.
Instant download, no subscription. Not printed or shipped — you get a high-resolution PNG to print at home or at a print shop.
Gift idea: baby shower name-meaning prints — sizes, printing & framing tips
FAQ
What does the name Tate mean?
Tate means “cheerful; Tata’s name”. It comes from English.
How do you pronounce Tate?
Tate is usually pronounced TAYT (/teɪt/).
Is Tate a popular name?
In 2025, Tate ranked #193 among boys' names in the United States, given to 1,862 baby boys, according to US Social Security Administration data. Its peak year was 2025 (1,862 babies).
What are nicknames for Tate?
T.
What are good sibling names for Tate?
Sister: Blake, Stevie. Brother: Ace, Xander.
Similar names
Dawson · Hayes · Jett · Barrett · Stetson · Legend
Browse: English names · all origins & themes
More: names starting with T · all boys' names · name art for any name
Sources: standard name etymology references (e.g. Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names); popularity from US SSA and UK ONS baby-name data. Meanings of old names are often debated — where scholars disagree we say so.