Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Tawny
GirlEnglish, French· “tan, brownish orange”
- Meaning
- tan, brownish orange
- Origin
- English, French
- Pronunciation
- TAW-nee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- Unranked
- US babies 2025
- 0
- Best rank
- #860 (1989)
- Peak year
- 1989
Meaning and origin of Tawny
Tawny is an English and French name that means “tan, brownish orange”.
Tawny is the English word for a warm brownish-orange color, borrowed from the Anglo-French taune, tanned. It has been used for the coats of lions and owls and for port wine, which gives it an earthy, natural feel. As a given name it belongs to the family of color and word names that grew popular in the second half of the twentieth century. Most Americans say TAW-nee, though in some regions it sounds closer to TAH-nee. The spelling Tawney also appears. Tawny is short, informal and sunny, and it sits well beside names like Amber and Autumn.
Other spellings with the same sound: Tani.
Popularity over time
Tawny first appears in US Social Security records in 1947. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 5 different years, starting in 1982. Its best national rank was #860 in 1989, the same year it reached its highest count of 217 babies. It did not appear in the 2025 data, which only lists names given to at least five babies.
Its national rank moved from #2,766 in 1950, #1,149 in 1980, #4,175 in 2000, and #9,178 in 2010. Of the 4,228 US girls named Tawny since records began, 36% were born in the 1980s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 1,052 babies. Since 2010, 80 more have been named Tawny.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Katheryn, Jaimee, Shanell, Krystin, and Deandra.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Tawny is usually pronounced TAW-nee, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with T and ends in “-ny”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Tani.
Middle names for Tawny
A few middle names that flow with Tawny: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Tawny
Similar names
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Lists that include Tawny
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Tawny mean?
Tawny is an English and French name that means “tan, brownish orange”.
What is the origin of the name Tawny?
Tawny has English and French roots. Tawny is the English word for a warm brownish-orange color, borrowed from the Anglo-French taune, tanned.
Is Tawny a popular name?
No. Tawny was not recorded for five or more babies of its most common sex in 2025, so it is rare today.
Is Tawny a boy or girl name?
Tawny is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Tawny?
Tawny is usually pronounced TAW-nee. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings