Fun Facts About the Name Tadd
- More than 1 thousand babies named Tadd: U.S. records list 1,457 babies given the name Tadd from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Tadd Mean?
Tadd is an English masculine name, usually a short form of Thaddeus, which goes back to the Greek Thaddaios used in the New Testament. That Greek name is generally traced to an Aramaic word for "breast" or "heart," which is why the name is commonly glossed as "courageous heart" or "large-hearted." The Aramaic source is not certain, and the meaning is sometimes given more plainly as "heart." The spelling Tadd is a variant of the more usual Tad; the doubled final consonant does not point to a different origin.
Tadd Name History & Origins
The name came into English through the apostle Thaddaeus, who is listed among the twelve disciples in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. In the Gospels of Luke and in Acts, the same position in the list is filled by "Judas son of James," and Christian tradition came to identify the two figures, which is why Thaddeus and Jude are sometimes treated as one person. The name passed into English use through Latin and Greek biblical texts as Thaddeus, with Thaddaeus as an older Latin spelling.
Tad belongs to the ordinary English habit of clipping a longer name to a single syllable, like Ned from Edward or Nell from Eleanor. The spelling Tadd is a less common variant of the same nickname. A separate route is possible in Ireland: the native name Tadhg, which means "poet" or "philosopher," was often rendered in English as Thady or Thaddeus, so a man called Tad could in principle have either name behind him. The two names are unrelated in origin.
As an ordinary word, tad has been used in American English since the nineteenth century for a small boy or a small amount, probably from tadpole. This word is distinct from the personal name. Thomas Lincoln, the youngest son of Abraham Lincoln, was known throughout his life as Tad; a traditional account says the nickname came from his small size and restless squirming as an infant. He was among the best-known American bearers of the nickname in the nineteenth century.
How Popular is the Name Tadd?
Tadd has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1985. Its best rank was #1,016 in 1967.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | #9,545 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2011 | #14,082 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #10,614 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2009 | #12,293 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #14,133 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 2006 | #11,875 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2005 | #6,577 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2004 | #11,174 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2003 | #10,706 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #6,979 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2001 | #8,218 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2000 | #8,109 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #7,036 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1998 | #6,768 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1997 | #10,611 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1996 | #4,164 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1995 | #6,901 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1994 | #4,506 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1993 | #3,357 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1992 | #3,731 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1991 | #2,745 | 25 | 0.0012% |
| 1990 | #2,124 | 35 | 0.0017% |
| 1989 | #2,460 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 1988 | #1,729 | 41 | 0.0021% |
| 1987 | #2,014 | 31 | 0.0017% |
| 1986 | #1,643 | 40 | 0.0022% |
| 1985 | #1,210 | 62 | 0.0034% |
| 1984 | #1,363 | 49 | 0.0027% |
| 1983 | #1,951 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 1982 | #2,260 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1981 | #2,082 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1980 | #1,521 | 41 | 0.0023% |
| 1979 | #1,562 | 38 | 0.0022% |
| 1978 | #1,388 | 45 | 0.0027% |
| 1977 | #1,366 | 45 | 0.0027% |
| 1976 | #1,095 | 60 | 0.0038% |
| 1975 | #1,276 | 46 | 0.0029% |
| 1974 | #1,168 | 51 | 0.0032% |
| 1973 | #1,249 | 44 | 0.0028% |
| 1972 | #1,247 | 45 | 0.0028% |
| 1971 | #1,287 | 43 | 0.0024% |
| 1970 | #1,166 | 51 | 0.0027% |
| 1969 | #1,278 | 39 | 0.0022% |
| 1968 | #1,116 | 46 | 0.0026% |
| 1967 | #1,016 | 52 | 0.0030% |
| 1966 | #1,323 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 1965 | #1,222 | 40 | 0.0022% |
| 1964 | #1,429 | 31 | 0.0016% |
| 1963 | #1,690 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1962 | #1,799 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1961 | #1,770 | 22 | 0.0010% |
| 1960 | #3,625 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1959 | #1,968 | 18 | 0.0008% |
| 1958 | #2,627 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1957 | #3,226 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1956 | #3,507 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1955 | #3,840 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1954 | #2,579 | 11 | 0.0005% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with T
Short Boy Names That Start with T
How the Name Tadd Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You like to control everyone within your influence, to shape things to your own liking. If positive, you develop high spirituality, as you have a God's protection. You are sensitive, affectionate, imaginative and cooperative, spiritually aware and prone to self-sacrifice. You can keep secrets and are a good diplomat. You may have healing and psychic powers. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Tadd's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Tadd's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.