NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Taig

A masculine Irish name derived from the word "tadhg," meaning "poet" or "philosopher.".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2002. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Taig is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Taig popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2002 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3225, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 4 births.

This profile covers 10 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 1998 to 2002. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 10 living people in the UK are called Taig. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2003 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Taig ranked #3225 for boys in England and Wales in 2002, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1998, when 4 boys were registered as Taig.
  • About 10 living people in the UK are estimated to have Taig as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3225

2002

Births in 2002

3

Latest year

Peak year

1998

4 births

Estimated living

10

2026

Meaning

What does Taig mean?

The name Taig originates from the Irish Gaelic language and is a diminutive form of the name Tadhg, which is derived from the Old Irish word "togach" meaning "poet" or "philosopher." It has its roots in ancient Celtic culture and was particularly prevalent in Ireland during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Taig can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, a chronicle of medieval Irish history dating back to the 12th century. The text mentions a notable figure named Taig mac Briain, who was a leader of the Dál gCais dynasty in the 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the name Taig was associated with several prominent figures in Irish literature and scholarship. One such individual was Taig Óg Ó Huiginn, a renowned Irish poet and scholar who lived in the 15th century and was renowned for his contributions to the preservation of Irish language and culture.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Taig Ó Rodraighe was a respected Irish physician and scholar who wrote extensively on the subject of traditional Irish medicine and healing practices.

Moving forward in history, Taig O'Regan was an Irish soldier and mercenary who fought in the Irish Confederate Wars during the 17th century, serving under the command of Owen Roe O'Neill.

Another significant figure bearing the name Taig was Taig Gaelach Ó Súilleabháin, an Irish language scholar and lexicographer from the 18th century, who is best known for his pioneering work in compiling one of the first comprehensive Irish-English dictionaries.

While the name Taig has its roots in ancient Irish culture, it has also been adopted and adapted in various forms across different regions and languages over the centuries, reflecting the diverse and interconnected histories of cultures around the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Taig over time

The chart below shows babies named Taig registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 to 2002. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Taig, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2002, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Taig
01234199820002002

Decades

Taig by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Taig was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2000s #3180 6 2
1990s #2419 4 1

Related

Names similar to Taig

FAQ

Taig: questions and answers

How popular is the name Taig in the UK right now?

In 2002, Taig was ranked #3225 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Taig most popular?

The peak year on record was 1998, with 4 babies registered as Taig in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Taig?

A masculine Irish name derived from the word "tadhg," meaning "poet" or "philosopher.".

How many people are called Taig in the UK?

A total of 10 babies have been registered as Taig across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.