UK boy's name
Tavish
A masculine English given name of Scottish origin meaning "prosperous traveler".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Tavish is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Tavish popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4991, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 6 births.
This profile covers 36 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 2010 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 47 living people in the UK are called Tavish. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Tavish ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 6 boys were registered as Tavish.
- • Tavish ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #619 in 2024.
- • About 47 living people in the UK are estimated to have Tavish as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4991
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
2011
6 births
Estimated living
47
2026
Meaning
What does Tavish mean?
The name Tavish is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic name Tàmhas, which is itself a variant of the name Thomas. The name Thomas ultimately derives from the Aramaic name Te'oma, meaning "twin." The earliest recorded use of the name Tavish can be traced back to the 16th century in Scotland.
In Scottish history, the name Tavish was particularly popular among the clans of the Highlands. One notable figure was Tavish MacIver, a 17th-century warrior who fought for the Clan MacIver during the Scottish Civil War. He was known for his bravery and loyalty to the clan.
Another historical figure bearing the name Tavish was Tavish MacLeod, a Scottish poet and scholar who lived in the late 18th century. He was renowned for his contributions to the preservation of Gaelic language and culture, and his works were widely studied and celebrated.
In the 19th century, Tavish McTavish was a prominent Scottish businessman and trader who established a successful trading company in the Canadian fur trade. He played a significant role in the economic development of the region and left a lasting legacy.
Moving into the 20th century, Tavish Bulloch was a Scottish architect who designed several notable buildings in Edinburgh, including the Balmoral Hotel. His works are celebrated for their unique blend of traditional Scottish and modern architectural styles.
Lastly, Tavish Finnie was a Scottish actor and playwright who gained recognition for his performances on stage and screen in the late 20th century. He was particularly known for his portrayal of iconic Scottish characters and his commitment to promoting Scottish culture through his artistic endeavors.
While the name Tavish has Scottish roots, it has also been adopted and used in various parts of the world, particularly in English-speaking countries with strong Scottish heritage. However, the historical and cultural significance of the name remains deeply rooted in the traditions and legacy of Scotland.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Tavish over time
The chart below shows babies named Tavish registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2010 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Tavish, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Tavish by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Tavish 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 | #4280 | 11 | 3 |
| 2010s | #3924 | 25 | 6 |
Geography
Where Tavish is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Tavish. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Tavish ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #619 in 2024.
Across the UK
Tavish in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#619 in 2024
3 years of NRS records, 11 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Tavish
-
Tavish Scott
politician; farmer
British politician (born 1966)
1966-
Related
Names similar to Tavish
- 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
Tavish: questions and answers
How popular is the name Tavish in the UK right now?
In 2023, Tavish was ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Tavish most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 6 babies registered as Tavish in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Tavish?
A masculine English given name of Scottish origin meaning "prosperous traveler".
How many people are called Tavish in the UK?
A total of 36 babies have been registered as Tavish across the 9 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 11 more in Scotland.
Where is Tavish most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Tavish ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #619 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.