UK name, mostly girls
Tallis
A Medieval English surname derived from the Old French place name Tailles.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2017. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 28 boys.
Tallis is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Tallis popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2017 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5765, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 5 births.
This profile covers 33 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 1999 to 2017. 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 33 living people in the UK are called Tallis. 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 2018 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Tallis ranked #5765 for girls in England and Wales in 2017, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2009, when 5 girls were registered as Tallis.
- • Tallis is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 33 living people in the UK are estimated to have Tallis as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 54.1% of Tallis registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5765
2017
Births in 2017
3
Latest year
Peak year
2009
5 births
Estimated living
33
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Tallis
In England and Wales birth records, Tallis has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 45.9% of registrations are for boys and 54.1% 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.
Tallis registered for boys
- Ranked #3,990 in 2021
- 4 boys registered in 2021
- Peak: 1998 (5 births)
Tallis registered for girls
- Ranked #5,765 in 2017
- 3 girls registered in 2017
- Peak: 2009 (5 births)
Meaning
What does Tallis mean?
The name Tallis is of English origin and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "tailler," which means "to cut" or "to carve." This connection suggests that the name may have been associated with occupations such as tailors or stonemasons.
During the medieval period, the name Tallis was primarily found in England, particularly in the regions of East Anglia and the Midlands. It was often spelled with variations such as Taillis, Taylys, or Taylys.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tallis can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Cambridgeshire from the late 13th century, where it appears as "Thomas le Taylys." This suggests that the name was already in use as a surname at that time.
In the 16th century, the name gained prominence due to the English composer Thomas Tallis (c. 1505-1585). He was a renowned figure in the Renaissance era and served as a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal under four successive monarchs. Tallis's compositions, including his famous work "Spem in alium," have left a lasting impact on sacred music.
Another notable figure with the name Tallis was John Tallis (1789-1840), an English cartographer and publisher. He founded the Tallis & Co. publishing house and was known for producing high-quality maps and atlases.
In the literary world, Graham Tallis (1923-2003) was an English novelist and short story writer. His works explored themes of identity, relationships, and the complexities of modern life.
Sir John Tallis (1913-1998) was a prominent British civil servant and economist. He served as the Chairman of the Royal Commission on the Distribution of Income and Wealth from 1974 to 1979.
Another notable figure with the name Tallis was Sir Raymond Tallis (1934-2022), a British philosopher, author, and former physician. He made significant contributions to the fields of neuroscience and the philosophy of mind.
While the name Tallis has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, it has been carried by individuals who have left their mark in various fields, from music and literature to public service and academia.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Tallis over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Tallis in England and Wales, from 1998 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Tallis, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2017, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Tallis by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Tallis 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 | #5414 | 10 | 3 |
| 2000s | #4622 | 20 | 6 |
| 1990s | #3900 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Tallis
- 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
Tallis: questions and answers
How popular is the name Tallis in the UK right now?
In 2017, Tallis was ranked #5765 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Tallis most popular?
The peak year on record was 2009, with 5 babies registered as Tallis in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Tallis?
A Medieval English surname derived from the Old French place name Tailles.
How many people are called Tallis in the UK?
A total of 33 babies have been registered as Tallis across the 10 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.