Tullis
A variant Scottish form of the name Tullius, of Roman origin.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Tullis. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Tullis today is around 6 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tullis births was 1922 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tullis. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Tullis. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1922
5 babies that year
Average age
6
years old
2022 SSA rank
#14,148
Tracked since 1922
Popularity
Tullis: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Tullis from the 1920s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 5 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Tullis by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Tullis during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Tullis
The given name Tullis is believed to have its origins in the Gaelic language, which was spoken by the ancient Celts who inhabited parts of modern-day Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. The name is thought to be derived from the Old Irish word "tuillsi," which means "peaceful" or "tranquil."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tullis can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In this text, a person named Tullis mac Bécáin is mentioned as a participant in a battle that took place in the year 737 AD. This suggests that the name was already in use by that time period.
During the Middle Ages, the name Tullis was predominantly found among Irish families, particularly those residing in the northern regions of the island. There are records of several individuals bearing this name who were involved in various historical events and conflicts during that era.
One notable figure named Tullis was Tullis Ó Conchobhair, a 15th-century Irish chieftain who ruled over a territory in what is now County Sligo. He was known for his resistance against the English forces that were attempting to expand their control over Ireland during that time.
Another individual with the name Tullis was Tullis MacCullough, who lived in the 16th century and was a member of the influential MacCullough clan in Ulster. He played a significant role in the conflicts between the Irish clans and the English crown during the Tudor period.
In more recent times, the name Tullis has been relatively uncommon, but there have been a few individuals who have carried it. One example is Tullis Matlock, a British author and playwright who lived in the early 20th century and wrote several works for the stage and screen.
Additionally, Tullis Onstott was an American geologist and researcher who made significant contributions to the field of geohydrology and the study of deep subsurface microbial life. He was born in 1944 and passed away in 2006.
While the name Tullis may not be as widely used today as it once was, it continues to hold a rich history and connection to the ancient Celtic cultures that inhabited the British Isles. Its meaning of "peaceful" or "tranquil" reflects the values and aspirations of those who bore this name throughout the centuries.
People
Tullis + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tullis as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Tullis: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tullis?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tullis going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Tullis a common name?
We classify Tullis as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 10 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tullis most popular?
The single biggest year for Tullis was 1922, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tullis is about 6 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Tullis in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Tullis a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Tullis in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Tullis still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Tullis in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Tullis can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have Tullis as a first name?
For a quick modern take, check how many people share the name Tullis on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.