UK boy's name
Taniela
A Tongan masculine name meaning "a rejoicing, an honor".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2012. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Taniela is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Taniela popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2012 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4805, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2012 to 2012. 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.
Taniela is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Taniela. 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 2013 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Taniela ranked #4805 for boys in England and Wales in 2012, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2012, when 3 boys were registered as Taniela.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Taniela as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4805
2012
Births in 2012
3
Latest year
Peak year
2012
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Taniela mean?
The given name Taniela has its origins in the Samoan language and culture. It is a masculine name that is derived from the word "tanielā," which means "tānie" (to wander) and "lā" (day or sun). The name is believed to have emerged in the early 19th century, during the period when Samoa was first being explored by European explorers and missionaries.
Taniela is a variation of the biblical name Daniel, which is derived from the Hebrew name "Daniyyel," meaning "God is my judge." The Samoan version of the name was likely influenced by the introduction of Christianity to the islands by Christian missionaries.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Taniela can be found in the work of George Pratt, an English missionary who arrived in Samoa in 1838. In his writings, Pratt mentions several Samoan individuals with the name Taniela, indicating that the name was already in use among the local population.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Taniela. One of the most famous was Taniela Ioane (1879-1944), a Samoan chief and politician who served as a member of the Legislative Council of Samoa during the period of New Zealand administration.
Another prominent individual was Taniela Tuiā'ana (1888-1956), a Samoan pastor and educator who played a significant role in promoting education and literacy in Samoa. He was also involved in the translation of the Bible into the Samoan language.
Taniela Tupuola (1900-1986) was a Samoan politician and paramount chief who served as the Prime Minister of Samoa from 1976 to 1982. He was instrumental in guiding Samoa's transition to independence from New Zealand in 1962.
In the literary world, Taniela Sāmauū (1920-1996) was a renowned Samoan poet and writer who made significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of Samoan language and culture through his works.
Taniela Fetū'u (1945-2021) was a Samoan rugby union player who represented Samoa at the international level and played for several clubs in New Zealand and France during his career.
These individuals, among others, have helped to keep the name Taniela prominent and celebrated throughout Samoan history and culture.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Taniela by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Taniela 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 | #4805 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Taniela
- 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
Taniela: questions and answers
How popular is the name Taniela in the UK right now?
In 2012, Taniela was ranked #4805 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Taniela most popular?
The peak year on record was 2012, with 3 babies registered as Taniela in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Taniela?
A Tongan masculine name meaning "a rejoicing, an honor".
How many people are called Taniela in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Taniela across the 1 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.