What Does the Name Tate Mean?
Tate is a unisex name of English (Old Norse origin) origin meaning “cheerful; from Old Norse 'teitr' (glad).”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Tate |
|---|---|
| Gender | unisex |
| Origin | English (Old Norse origin) |
| Meaning | cheerful; from Old Norse 'teitr' (glad) |
| Variants | Tait, Tayte, Teyt |
| Popularity | Most popular in the United States as a modern unisex given name, leaning male; also established as a surname in England. |
The meaning and origin of Tate
The name Tate means “cheerful; from Old Norse 'teitr' (glad)” and has English (Old Norse origin) origins. An English surname derived from the Old Norse personal name Teitr, meaning 'cheerful' or 'glad'. Now used as a given name for both boys and girls, though more common for boys.
Variants and related names
Tate is related to several other names you may recognize: Tait, Tayte, Teyt. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Tate?
Most popular in the United States as a modern unisex given name, leaning male; also established as a surname in England.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Tate mean?+
The name Tate means “cheerful; from Old Norse 'teitr' (glad)” and is of English (Old Norse origin) origin.
What is the origin of the name Tate?+
Tate originates from English (Old Norse origin).
Is Tate a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Tate has trended in the US over time.
Tate by gender
More unisex names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press