Tesla Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Tesla has its roots in the Serbo-Croatian language, meaning 'wooden beam' or 'to make'. It evolved from historical forms like Teslina to its current popular usage. The name is associated with traits of innovation and technological advancement, largely due to Nikola Tesla's legacy and the modern electric vehicle company. There is no direct biblical relevance.
The name Tesla is most popular in Colorado, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Alpha generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Tesla has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Tesla' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 17241st out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 9776th out of 23106 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2301st out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 3208th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2235th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Tesla' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Tesla"
Pronunciation
/ˈtɛzlə/
Origin
Serbo-Croatian
Etymology
The name Tesla is derived from the Serbo-Croatian word 'tesla', meaning 'wooden beam' or 'to make', which reflects the profession of carpentry.
Meaning
wooden beam, to make
Language Evolution
Teslina, Tesla
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, primarily due to the fame of inventor Nikola Tesla, who became known for his contributions to electricity and electromagnetism.
Variants & Derivatives
Tess, Tessa, Tessy
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, the name Tesla is often associated with innovation, technology, and electric vehicles, largely due to the prominence of Tesla, Inc., the electric car manufacturer founded by Elon Musk.
Famous People
Nikola Tesla, Elon Musk
Explore More Tesla Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Tesla"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Tesla"
"Tesla" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 17241st of 24088 | 20 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 9776th of 23106 | 78 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 2301st of 27321 | 816 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 3208th of 35406 | 773 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 2235th of 30306 | 999 |
Regional Popularity of "Tesla" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Tesla" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
42.04% 1549th/3685 |
64.72% 2896th/4475 |
34.62% 1798th/5194 |
44.01% 2780th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
58.40% 2676th/4582 |
100.00% 5164th/5164 |
46.15% 3375th/7313 |
45.36% 3385th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
49.47% 1971st/3984 |
68.11% 3056th/4487 |
34.90% 2381st/6822 |
29.13% 1828th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Tesla"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Tesla" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.