NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Tanna

A feminine name of Scandinavian origin meaning "from the pine woods".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2004. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Tanna is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Tanna popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2004 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4598, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 3 births.

This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 1997 to 2004. 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 6 living people in the UK are called Tanna. 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 2005 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Tanna ranked #4598 for girls in England and Wales in 2004, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1997, when 3 girls were registered as Tanna.
  • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Tanna as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4598

2004

Births in 2004

3

Latest year

Peak year

1997

3 births

Estimated living

6

2026

Meaning

What does Tanna mean?

The name Tanna has its origins in the Sanskrit language, which was the classical language of ancient India. It first emerged around the 5th century BCE, during the Vedic period of Indian history. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "tanu," which means "small" or "thin." It was likely initially used as a descriptive term for a slender or petite individual.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tanna can be found in the Hindu sacred texts known as the Vedas, specifically in the Rigveda, which dates back to around 1500-1000 BCE. In these ancient scriptures, Tanna is mentioned as the name of a minor deity associated with the sun and its rays.

During the medieval period in India, the name Tanna gained popularity among certain Hindu communities, particularly in the northern and central regions of the subcontinent. It was often bestowed upon children as a mark of respect for the ancient Vedic traditions and as a way to invoke blessings of good health and vitality.

One of the earliest historical figures known to bear the name Tanna was Tanna ben Valens, a Jewish scholar and Talmudic authority who lived in the 4th century CE. He was a prominent figure in the Babylonian Jewish community and made significant contributions to the development of Jewish law and tradition.

Another notable figure was Tanna Shan, a Chinese Buddhist monk who lived during the 6th century CE. He is credited with introducing the practice of Buddhism to Japan and is revered as one of the founding fathers of Japanese Buddhism.

In more recent times, the name Tanna has been associated with several influential individuals. Tanna Tuva Novotny was a Swedish actress and model who rose to prominence in the 1990s, known for her roles in films such as "Hollow Man" and "The Banger Sisters."

Tanna Frederick is an American actress and filmmaker, born in 1979, who has starred in numerous independent films and television shows. She is also a philanthropist and founder of the non-profit organization Project Save Our Surf.

Tanna Innē, born in 1992, is a Swedish pop singer and songwriter who has achieved commercial success in her home country and across Scandinavia with her catchy pop tunes and powerful vocals.

While the name Tanna may have its roots in ancient Sanskrit and Hindu traditions, it has transcended cultural boundaries and gained recognition across various parts of the world, making it a unique and intriguing choice for a given name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Tanna over time

The chart below shows babies named Tanna registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2004. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Tanna, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2004, compared with 3 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Tanna
01223199720002004

Decades

Tanna by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Tanna 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 #4598 3 1
1990s #3824 3 1

Related

Names similar to Tanna

FAQ

Tanna: questions and answers

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

In 2004, Tanna was ranked #4598 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Tanna most popular?

The peak year on record was 1997, with 3 babies registered as Tanna in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Tanna?

A feminine name of Scandinavian origin meaning "from the pine woods".

How many people are called Tanna in the UK?

A total of 6 babies have been registered as Tanna across the 2 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.