UK girl's name
Tais
An alternate transcription of the Greek name Thaïs, meaning "goddess of peace".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2016. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Tais is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Tais popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2016 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5785, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 3 births.
This profile covers 9 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2010 to 2016. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 9 living people in the UK are called Tais. 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 2017 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Tais ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales in 2016, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 3 girls were registered as Tais.
- • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Tais as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5785
2016
Births in 2016
3
Latest year
Peak year
2010
3 births
Estimated living
9
2026
Meaning
What does Tais mean?
The name Tais has its origins in ancient Greek culture, dating back to the 5th century BC. It is derived from the Greek word "thaïs," which means "a woman from Thaïs," referring to the ancient region of Thrace in modern-day Greece and Bulgaria.
The earliest recorded use of the name Tais can be found in the writings of the Greek philosopher Plato, who mentioned a courtesan named Tais in his work "The Symposium." This Tais was a renowned beauty and companion of the Athenian general Ptolemy I, who later became the ruler of Egypt.
In ancient Greek mythology, Tais was also the name of a nymph associated with the goddess Artemis, the goddess of the hunt. This connection to nature and the divine realm may have contributed to the name's popularity in ancient times.
One of the most famous historical figures with the name Tais was Tais of Alexandria, a renowned Greek courtesan who lived in the 4th century BC. She was known for her beauty, wit, and influence over powerful men, including the Macedonian king Alexander the Great.
Another notable Tais in history was Tais of Miletus, a Greek musician and dancer who lived in the 5th century BC. She was renowned for her performances and is mentioned in the writings of several ancient authors, including Herodotus and Athenaeus.
In the 16th century, the Italian poet and playwright Giambattista Giraldi Cinzio wrote a tragedy titled "Tais," which dramatized the life of the ancient courtesan. This work helped to keep the name alive in literary circles during the Renaissance period.
Other notable individuals named Tais throughout history include Tais Araújo, a Brazilian actress and model born in 1979, and Tais Valente, a Brazilian mixed martial artist born in 1985.
Overall, the name Tais has a rich history spanning over two millennia, with roots in ancient Greek culture, mythology, and literature, as well as later literary and artistic works that have helped to preserve its legacy.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Tais over time
The chart below shows babies named Tais registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2010 to 2016. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Tais, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2016, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Tais by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Tais 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5759 | 9 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Tais
- Tia 15,569
- Thea 12,888
- Tilly 11,524
- Taylor 7,401
- Tegan 6,583
- Tabitha 6,462
- Talia 5,198
- Tara 5,114
- Tiffany 4,653
- Tallulah 4,442
- Tiana 3,570
- Tamara 3,405
FAQ
Tais: questions and answers
How popular is the name Tais in the UK right now?
In 2016, Tais was ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Tais most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 3 babies registered as Tais in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Tais?
An alternate transcription of the Greek name Thaïs, meaning "goddess of peace".
How many people are called Tais in the UK?
A total of 9 babies have been registered as Tais 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.