NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Tanner

One who tans leather or has an occupation related to tanning.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Tanner is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Tanner popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1859, with 13 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 17 births.

This profile covers 215 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 76% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 214 living people in the UK are called Tanner. 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 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Tanner ranked #1859 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 13 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2023, when 17 boys were registered as Tanner.
  • About 214 living people in the UK are estimated to have Tanner as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1859

2024

Births in 2024

13

Latest year

Peak year

2023

17 births

Estimated living

214

2026

Meaning

What does Tanner mean?

The given name Tanner has its origins in the English language and is derived from the occupational surname "tanner," which refers to a person who tanned hides and skins for a living. The name can be traced back to the Middle English word "tannere," which in turn comes from the Old French word "taneor," meaning "one who tans hides."

The tanning profession has a long and rich history, dating back to ancient civilizations where animal hides were used for clothing, shelter, and various other purposes. The process of tanning, which involves treating skins to prevent them from decomposing, was an essential skill that allowed for the preservation and utilization of these valuable materials.

While the name Tanner does not have any direct historical references in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it is closely linked to the development of the leather industry, which played a significant role in the economic and cultural life of many societies throughout history.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Tanner can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land and property in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The book mentions several individuals with the surname "Tannere" or "Tannur," indicating that the occupation of tanning was well-established in England at that time.

Over the centuries, various notable individuals have borne the first name Tanner, contributing to its enduring legacy. Here are five examples:

1. Tanner Houck (born 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Boston Red Sox in Major League Baseball.

2. Tanner Foust (born 1973) is an American professional racing driver and television host, known for his appearances on various motorsports shows and his successful rallycross career.

3. Tanner Pearson (born 1992) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the Vancouver Canucks in the National Hockey League.

4. Tanner Muse (born 1997) is an American football safety who was drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2020 NFL Draft.

5. Tanner Eberle (born 1992) is a Canadian singer-songwriter and record producer, best known for his work in the pop and electronic music genres.

These individuals, spanning various fields and eras, have helped to shape and perpetuate the legacy of the given name Tanner, ensuring its continued relevance and recognition across diverse cultural landscapes.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Tanner over time

The chart below shows babies named Tanner registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Tanner, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 13 births in 2024, compared with 17 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Tanner
0491317199620102024

Decades

Tanner by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Tanner 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 #1984 59 5
2010s #2687 82 10
2000s #2442 57 9
1990s #2410 17 4

Related

Names similar to Tanner

FAQ

Tanner: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Tanner was ranked #1859 for boys in England and Wales, with 13 births registered.

When was Tanner most popular?

The peak year on record was 2023, with 17 babies registered as Tanner in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Tanner?

One who tans leather or has an occupation related to tanning.

How many people are called Tanner in the UK?

A total of 215 babies have been registered as Tanner across the 28 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.