Tou Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Tou originates from the Hmong culture, meaning 'wisdom' or 'intelligence'. It has evolved from Proto-Hmong-Mien to its current form in the Hmong language. The name is positively perceived and has gained popularity due to cultural recognition. There are variants such as Toua and Tao. It does not have biblical relevance.
The name Tou is most popular in Minnesota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Millennials (Gen Y) 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. From 2020-2022, Tou has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Tou' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 6561st out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1376th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 5723rd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 19426th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Tou' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Tou"
Pronunciation
/tuː/
Origin
Hmong
Etymology
The name Tou is derived from the Hmong word for 'to be wise' or 'to be intelligent'.
Meaning
wisdom, intelligence
Language Evolution
Proto-Hmong-Mien, Hmong
Historical Usage
The name Tou has been used within Hmong communities for generations and gained recognition outside these communities in recent years due to increased cultural exchange and awareness.
Variants & Derivatives
Toua, Tao
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, the name Tou is often associated with positive attributes such as wisdom and intelligence, and it is increasingly embraced in multicultural contexts.
Famous People
Tou Thao, a former police officer involved in the George Floyd case, Tou Lee, a prominent Hmong community leader
Explore More Tou Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Tou"
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 "Tou"
"Tou" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 6561st of 10718 | 33 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1376th of 16616 | 995 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 5723rd of 24088 | 215 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 19426th of 23106 | 11 |
Regional Popularity of "Tou" 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) |
50.73% 1490th/2937 |
- | - |
60.78% 2458th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
19.43% 716th/3685 |
67.73% 3031st/4475 |
- |
12.35% 780th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
37.97% 1740th/4582 |
- | - |
36.97% 2759th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Tou" 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) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Tou"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Tou" 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.