UK name, mostly boys
Tal
A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "morning dew".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Tal is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Tal popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 7 births.
This profile covers 64 England and Wales registrations across 16 recorded years from 1996 to 2022. 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 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 63 living people in the UK are called Tal. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Tal ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 7 boys were registered as Tal.
- • About 63 living people in the UK are estimated to have Tal as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 86.5% of Tal registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4789
2022
Births in 2022
3
Latest year
Peak year
2010
7 births
Estimated living
63
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Tal
In England and Wales birth records, Tal has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 86.5% of registrations are for boys and 13.5% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Tal registered for boys
- Ranked #4,789 in 2022
- 3 boys registered in 2022
- Peak: 2010 (7 births)
Tal registered for girls
- Ranked #4,736 in 2015
- 4 girls registered in 2015
- Peak: 2015 (4 births)
Meaning
What does Tal mean?
The name Tal has its origins in Hebrew and Arabic languages. It is a masculine given name that has been in use for centuries.
In Hebrew, the name Tal is derived from the word "tal" which means "dew" or "morning dew." It is associated with freshness, purity, and renewal. The name has been mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, particularly in the Book of Job, where it is used as a metaphor for the transient nature of life.
In Arabic, the name Tal has a similar meaning, referring to "dew" or "moisture." It is also related to the word "tala'a," meaning "to rise" or "to ascend," symbolizing growth and progress.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tal is Tal ben Reuben, a biblical figure mentioned in the Book of Numbers as one of the leaders of the Israelite tribe of Gad during the Exodus from Egypt.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Tal. One of the most famous is Tal Wilkenfeld, an Australian bassist and singer who has collaborated with renowned musicians like Jeff Beck, Chick Corea, and Herbie Hancock. She was born in 1986.
Another prominent figure is Tal Brody, an Israeli-American basketball player who led the Israeli national team to victory in the 1977 European Basketball Championship. He was born in 1943 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in Israeli basketball history.
Tal Hanani was an Israeli artist and sculptor known for his large-scale public sculptures. He was born in 1938 and his works can be found in various cities around the world, including Jerusalem and New York.
Tal Rosner is an Israeli computer scientist and entrepreneur who co-founded the cybersecurity company CyberArk. He was born in 1973 and has been recognized for his contributions to the field of information security.
In ancient times, Tal Shilhav was a prominent figure in ancient Israel during the reign of King David, serving as one of his military commanders and advisors, as mentioned in the Books of Samuel and Chronicles.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Tal over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Tal in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Tal, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2022, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Tal by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Tal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4789 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4178 | 16 | 4 |
| 2000s | #2989 | 34 | 8 |
| 1990s | #2573 | 11 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Tal
- Thomas 160,894
- Tyler 42,147
- Theo 40,594
- Toby 32,482
- Theodore 30,211
- Tommy 25,300
- Teddy 20,781
- Taylor 14,354
- Tobias 13,102
- Tom 9,822
- Tristan 9,171
- Timothy 6,200
FAQ
Tal: questions and answers
How popular is the name Tal in the UK right now?
In 2022, Tal was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Tal most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 7 babies registered as Tal in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Tal?
A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "morning dew".
How many people are called Tal in the UK?
A total of 64 babies have been registered as Tal across the 16 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.