Names  - Origins 

T

TAB: Old German for "briliant" and Middle English for "drummer." An enchanting selection that's short, sweet, and unusual. Relatives: Taber, Tabor, Tabbert, Taburer, Tabby. Namesake: Tab Hunter.

TABITHA: From the Greek for "gazelle." Beatrix Potter named one of her little animal characters Tabitha Twitchet. For TV triviologists, Tabitha was the name of Darren and Samantha's witchlette daughter in "Bewitched." Relatives: Tabatha, Tabbie, Tabbi, Tabby. Namesake: Tabitha King.

TAGGART: Irish Gaelic for "son of the prelate." Taggart is an agreeable-sounding name suggesting a strong character and a lethal slaposhot. Relatives: Taggard, Tagg, Tag, Gary. Namesake: Genevieve Taggard.

TALBOT: From the Old French for "reward." The baby will want suede elbow patches on his tweed stretchie. Relatives: Tally, Tallie. Namesake: Talbot's catalog.

TALIA: From the Hebrew for "dew from heaven," which sounds like the final line of a delicately crafted haiku. Relatives: Talya, Tally, Tai, Talitha. Namesakes: Talia Shire, Tai Babilonia.

TALLULAH: Choctaw Indian for "leaping water." This name is closely associated with its famous namesake. Relatives: Tally, Tallie. Namesake: Tallulah Bankhead.

TAMARA: From the Hebrew for "palm tree." Relatives: Tamarah, Tamar, Tammy, Tammie, Tamarind, Tamika.

TAMMY: From the Hebrew for "perfect one." Tammy, like Gidget, was a teen queen of the fifties and sixties. The character starred in a series of saccharine movies, including the classic "Tammy Tell Me True." Relatives: Tammie, Tam. Namesakes: Tammy Grimes, Tammy Wynette.

TANNER: Old English for "leather worker." Appropriate for a little sun-worshiper. Namesakes: "Henry Tanner," Roscoe Tanner.

TANYA: From the Russian for "fairy princess." Relatives: Tania, Tan, Tani, Tatiana. Namesake: Tanya Tucker.

TARA: Irish Gaelic for "rocky hill." No fan of Margaret Mitchell will ever forget Scarlett O'Hara's vow to return to her beloved Tara. The name can now be heard at most playgrounds. Relatives: Taria, Taryn. Namesake: the ancient capital of Ireland.

TATE: Middle English for "cheerful." Short and endearing. Relative: Tatum. Namesakes: Tatum O'Neal, Allen Tate, Art Tatum, Tate Gallery.

TAVIS: Scottish for "twin." Relatives: Tevis, Tav, Tavish, Tamsin.

TAYLOR: Middle English for "tailor." Taylor is an occupational surname that has often been pressed into service as a first name. Relatives: Tailor, Tay, Tie. Namesakes: Taylor Caldwell, Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Taylor, General Matthew Taylor.

TEAGUE: Irish Gaelic for "poet." Is your baby rhyming "goo goo" with "boo hoo"? This name could prove prophetic. Relatives: Tadhg, Tegan (Celtic for "doe"). Namesake: McTeague.

TEMPEST: From the Old French for "storm." So far we've seen Raine, Storm, and Misty. Tempest is fine for a passionate child. Relative: Tempestt. Namesake: Tempestt Bledsoe.

TENNYSON: Middle English for "son of Dennis." Relatives: Tennison, Tennessee, Tenny. Namesakes: Alfred Lord Tennyson, Tennessee Williams.

TERENCE: From the Latin for "polished." Terence has a faithful following in England but is seldom used in the United States. Give it a go. Relatives: Terrence, Terance, Terencio, Terentius, Terry, Teri, Terris. Namesakes: Terence Stamp, Terry Bradshaw, "Terry and the Pirates."

TERRELL: Old English for "thunderer." Relatives: Terrill, Tirell, Terris, Tyrell, Tarrant. Namesake: Robert Terrell.

TESS: From the Greek for "fourth born." Once used as an abbreviation of Teresa, Tess has come to stand on its own. It's a sweet name. Relatives: Tessa, Tessie. Namesakes: Tess Harper, Tess of the D'Urbervilles.

THADDEAUS: From the Latin for "courageous" or "praiser." Relatives: Thaddaus, Thaddea, Thada, Taddeo, Tadeo, Tadeusz, Tadgh, Thad, Taddy, Tadda, Tad, Ted. Namesakes: an apostle, Tadeusz Kosciuszkos.

THALASSA: Greek for "from the sea." Thalasso mud wraps are a sought-after form of therapy at seaside spas. Namesake: Thalassa Cruso.

THALIA: From the Greek for "blooming." Thalia blends nicely with a flower name, making such combinations as Thalia Rose and Thalia Lily. Namesakes: one of the three Graces, the Muse of comedy.

THEA: From Greek for "goddess." An exquisite name.

THELMA: From the Greek for "nursing." Namesake: Thelma Ritter.

THEOBOLD: Old German for "the boldest." Relatives: Teoboldo, Tibalt, Tybalt, Thebault, Thibaud, Thibaut, Theo. Namesakes: "Tybalt" (character in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet).

THEODORA: From the Greek for "gift of God." This was rock star Keith Richards and wife Patti Hansen's choice for one of their baby girls. Relatives: Theora, Theda, Teodora, Theodosia, Thedora, Thera (Greek for"wild"), Tedra, Feodora, Dora, Theone, Theophania, Theophilia. Namesake: Theda Bara.

THEODORE: From the Greek for "gift of God." How Theodore Cleaver became "the Beaver" rather than Teddy is beyond us. Relatives: Theodor, Teodore, Teodoro, Teddy, Ted, Feodor, Fyodor. Namesakes: Theodore Roosevelt, Theodore Dreiser, Theodore Roethke, Ted Turner, Ted Williams, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, "Theodore the Chipmunk."

THEOPHILUS: From the Greek for "beloved of God." Namesake: "Theophilus North."

THERESA: Greek for "reaper." No matter how you spell it, this is an exquisite name with an assortment of nickname possibilities. Relatives: Teresa, Teressa, Therese, Toireasa, Teri, Terri, Terry, Tessa, Tess, Tessie, Tessy, Tracey, Tracie, Tracy, Tressa, Thera. Namesakes: Saint Theresa, Mother Teresa, Tracy, Chapman, Tracey Ullman, Teri Garr.

THIRZA: From the Hebrew for "sweet-natured" or "cypress tree." The "h" is silent, giving this name a melodic sound. Relatives: Thyrza, Tirza.

THISBE: From the Greek place name for "where the doves live." Rhymes with the flying disk. Namesake: Pyramus and Thisbe.

THOMAS: From the Greek for "twin." Tom is terrific. Relatives: Tomas, Tomaso, Tom, Thom, Thos, Tommy, Thompson, Thomson, Massey. Namesakes: Saint Thomas, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Wolfe, Dylan Thomas, Tom Selleck, "Tom Thumb," Thom Gunn, Tom Cruise.

THOMASA: From the Greek for "twin" and a feminine variation of Thomas. Tamsin might be the prettiest choice from this group. Relatives: Thomasina, Thomasine, Tomasina, Tommie, Tommy, Tammy, Tamsen, Tamsin, Tamson. Namesake: "Thomasina."

THOR: Old Norse for "thunder." Thor was the Norse equivalent of Zeus -- the god of war who was often depicted as tossing lightning bolts. Relatives: Thora, Thorbert, Thordis, Thordia. Namesakes: Thor Heyerdahl, Thorstein Veblen.

THORNE: Old English for "thorn tree." This baby may be nicknamed Spike, so think this one through. Relatives: Thorn, Thorndyke Thornton, Thornley.

THORPE: Old English for "from the village." Namesake: Jim Thorpe.

THURLOW: Old English for "from Thor." Relatives: Thurston, Thorald, Thorbert, Thorburn, Thorley, Thurmon, Thurman, Thurmond, Thurber, Thormond, Torold, Terrell. Namesakes: Thurmon Munson, Strom Thurmond, James Thurber.

TIERNAN: Irish Gaelic for "lord." Relative: Tierney. Namesake: Gene Tierney.

TIFFANY: From the Old French for "appearance of God." Tiffany glass and New York's famous jeweler, Tiffany and Company, are both known for their exquisite designs. The name leaped onto some top-ten lists in the United States in 1982 and 1983. Relatives: Tifany, Tiphany, Tifanee, Tiffy, Tiffie, Fanny. Namesakes: Tiffany Chin, Louis Comfort Tiffany.

TIMOTHY: Greek for "honoring God." Timothy is also a type of prairie grass named for Timothy Hanson. Whereas Timothy would suit a girl as well as a boy, consider Timothea only for a daughter. Relatives: Timotheus, Timoteo, Timothea, Timmy, Timmie, Tim, Timon, Timo, Timora, Thea. Namesakes: Timothy Hutton, Timothy Leary, Tim Matheson.

TITANIA: From the Greek for "giant." An ideal choice for a sprite-child. Relatives: Tatiana, Titian (red-gold). Namesake: queen of the fairies in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

TITUS: Greek for "of the giants." Have any plans to turn this child into an N.B.A. star? Relatives: Tito, Titan. Namesake: "Titus Moody."

TOBIAS: From the Hebrew for "God is good." Tobias is a book of the Old Testament in the Douay Bible. A toby is a ceramic mug in the shape of a human head or body. Relatives: Tobia, Tobiah, Toby, Tobit, Tobin, Tova. Namesakes: Toby Harrah, Tovah Feldshuh, Andrew Tobia, "Toby Tyler."

TODD: Middle English for "fox." This strong one-syllable name enjoyed a run of popularity in the sixties but has since retreated. Namesakes: Todd Stottlemyer, Mary Todd Lincoln, Mike Todd.

TOMKIN: Old English for "little Tom." Has a sweet sound and offers a change from Thomas. Relatives: Tompkin, Tomlin. Namesake: Lily Tomlin.

TOPAZ: From the Latin for the yellow gemstone. An unusual jewel name that suits a bright-eyed child. It is the birthstone for November babies.

TORRANCE: Anglo-Irish for "from the low hills." This puts a different spin on Terence. Relatives: Torey, Torrey, Torry, Tori, Torr. Namesake: Torrance (Calif.)

TOWNSEND: Old English for "from the end of town." A solid name for a future real estate mogul. Relatives: Towne, Townley, Townes. Namesake: Townsend Hoopes, Robert Townsend.

TRAVIS: Old French for "crossing." Although traditionally a boy's name, this would certainly work well for a girl. Relatives: Travers, Trever. Namesakes: Travis Jackson, Randy Travis, "Travis Magee."

TREMAYNE: Old Cornish for "house by the stones." Has an Old World cachet. Relative: Tremaine. Namesake: Johnny Tremain.

TRENT: From the Latin for "torrent." A potent name for a child who debuts during a rainstorm. Namesakes: Terrance Trent D'Arby, Trent Tucker, Council of Trent.

TREVOR: Irish Gaelic for "cautious." This name has long been in fashion in England. Namesakes: Trevor Howard, Trevor Nunn, Hugh Trevor-Roper.

TREY: Middle English for "third born." Trey may be used as a nickname for a child who has the same name as a parent and a grandparent. Relative: Tray. Namesake: "Old Dog Tray."

TRIPP: Old English for "traveler" and common abbreviation for "the third." Like Trey, Tripp is used as a nickname for a child named for parent and a grandparent. A good choice if the child is destined for an exclusive prep school.

TRISTAN: Old Welsh for "noisy one" and Latin for "laborer." The love story of Tristan and Isolde (or Iseult) is a classic literary folk tale. Tristan (sometimes appearing as Tristram) was also one of the knights of King Arthur's Round Table. Relative: Tristram. Namesakes: Tristan de Cunha, Tristram Coffin, Tristram Shandy.

TROY: From the French place name "Troyes," and the ancient city in Asia Minor. Troy weight refers to a system of measuring precious metals. According to Greek mythology. Troilus was killed by Achilles. Relative: Troilus. Namesakes: Troy Donahue, Helen of Troy, Troilus and Cressida.

TRUMAN: Old English for "disciple." Relatives: Truesdale, True. Namesakes: Truman Capote, Harry S. Truman.

TUCKER: Middle English for "tailor." In Great Britain, "tuck" or "tucker" is a colloquialism for food. To eat is to "tuck it in." But you may feel too tuckered out to worry about details. Relatives: Tuckman, Tuck. Namesakes: Tucker Frederickson, Sophie Tucker, "Friar Tuck," Tucker automobiles.

TUESDAY: From the Old English for "the day of the week." Of the days of the week, this is the most popular. Namesakes: Tuesday Weld, "Ruby Tuesday."

TULLY: Irish Gaelic for "a people" or "peaceful one." The derivations for Tully make this a special choice. Namesake: Alice Tully.

TURNER: Middle English for "carpenter." Namesakes: Nat Turner, Tina Turner, Lana Turner.

TURPIN: Old Norse for "thunder-Finn." Good for a boisterous Scandinavian. Namesakes: Dick Turpin, Archbishop Turpin.

TWAIN: Middle English for "two pieces." Samuel Langhorne Clemens took the pseudonym Mark Twain from Mississippi River slang. It means "two fathoms deep." Namesake: Mark Twain.

TYE: Old English for "enclosed." For trivia buffs, Buster Brown's dog was named Tighe. Relatives: Tie, Tigh, Tighe, Tiegh, Tynan, Tai. Namesakes: Tai Babilonia, Kenneth Tynan.

TYLER: Middle English for "tiler" or "roofer." It's hard to go wrong evoking a president's name: John Tyler was the tenth president of the United States. Namesakes: Mary Tyler Moore, Tyler (Tex.)

TYNE: Old English for "river." Relatives: Tain, Tine, Tyna. Namesake: Tyne Daly.

TYRONE: From the Greek for "king." Tyr was the god of battle in Nordic mythology. As Thor's brother, he possessed a magic sword, and despite losing a hand to a treacherous wolf, he never lost a fight. Relative: Tyron. Namesake: Tyrone Power.

TYRUS: From the Latin for "person from Tyre." Relative: Ty. Namesake: Ty Cobb.

TYSON: From the Old French for "son of a German." Perhaps the boxing champ will inspire a bevy of little Tysons. Namesake: Mike Tyson.

~ THE BEST NAME FOR YOUR BABY: A CREATIVE GUIDE TO PROPER NAMES, by Barbara Binswanger and Lisbeth Mark. Henry Holt and Co., New York, 1990.