Meeting place or winding river
Derived from the Cherokee town name Tanasi, the meaning is often interpreted as a meeting place or a reference to the winding nature of the Little Tennessee River. It gained recognition as a given name primarily through the famous American playwright Tennessee Williams.
Less common today
Tennessee isn't in the latest US Top 1000. It last peaked at #3,806 in 2021.
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of 'A Streetcar Named Desire'
American singer and television host known for 'Sixteen Tons'
British drummer and actress
US births per 5-year period, 1990–present (SSA data).
