Girl · #15,431 in 2026

Tenaja

A tinaja, sometimes tenaja, is a surface pocket (depression) formed in bedrock that occurs below waterfalls, that is carved out by spring flow or seepage, or that is caused by sand and gravel scouring in intermittent streams (arroyos). The term usually implies a natural or geologic cistern in rock which retains water. They are often created by erosional processes within intermittent streams.

Current Rank
#15,431
Peak Rank
#10,836 (1997)
Total Babies
29
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1993
First Year
2002
Last Year
1997
Peak Year
#10836
Peak Rank
29
Total Count
5
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Tenaja

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

A tinaja, sometimes tenaja, is a surface pocket (depression) formed in bedrock that occurs below waterfalls, that is carved out by spring flow or seepage, or that is caused by sand and gravel scouring in intermittent streams (arroyos). The term usually implies a natural or geologic cistern in rock which retains water. They are often created by erosional processes within intermittent streams.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Etymology
From the Spanish tinaja: a clay pot or earthenware jar, and is used in the American Southwest .

The Story of Tenaja

Tenaja first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1993, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1997, when 7 Tenajas were born — ranking #10,836 that year. As of 2026, Tenaja ranks #15,431 for baby girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 29 Tenajas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
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AR
TN
NC
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AK
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NM
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LA
MS
AL
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HI
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Top 10
11-50
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101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Tenaja

Phonetically similar names — useful when Tenaja is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Tenaja

What does the name Tenaja mean?
A tinaja, sometimes tenaja, is a surface pocket (depression) formed in bedrock that occurs below waterfalls, that is carved out by spring flow or seepage, or that is caused by sand and gravel scouring in intermittent streams (arroyos). The term usually implies a natural or geologic cistern in rock which retains water. They are often created by erosional processes within intermittent streams.
How popular is Tenaja in 2026?
In 2026, Tenaja ranks #15,431 among girls' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.
When was Tenaja most popular?
Tenaja reached its peak popularity in 1997, ranking #10,836 that year with 7 babies given the name.
Is Tenaja a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Tenaja is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Tenaja?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Tenaja include Jesie, Gaelen, Cherub. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

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Jesie
Peak #10836
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Gaelen
Peak #10836
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Cherub
Peak #10836
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Oshea
Peak #10836
👧
Shoshawna
Peak #10836
👧
Tiawna
Peak #10836
👧
Caycie
Peak #10836
👧
Emilyjo
Peak #10836

About the name Tenaja

Tenaja is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1993 and has accumulated 29 births in the dataset. Tenaja's peak popularity came in 1997 when it ranked #10,836. Use the chart and map above to compare Tenaja's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.