Tendai
Tendai , also known as the Tendai Dharma Flower School, is a Mahāyāna Buddhist tradition with significant esoteric elements that was officially established in Japan in 806 by the Japanese monk Saichō. The Tendai school, which has been based on Mount Hiei since its inception, rose to prominence during the Heian period (794–1185).
Meaning & Origin of Tendai
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Tendai , also known as the Tendai Dharma Flower School, is a Mahāyāna Buddhist tradition with significant esoteric elements that was officially established in Japan in 806 by the Japanese monk Saichō. The Tendai school, which has been based on Mount Hiei since its inception, rose to prominence during the Heian period (794–1185).
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Origin & history
The Story of Tendai
Tendai first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1999, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1999, when 5 Tendais were born — ranking #9,912 that year. As of 2026, Tendai ranks #9,912 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 5 Tendais have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Tendai
Phonetically similar names — useful when Tendai 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 Tendai
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About the name Tendai
Tendai is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1999 and has accumulated 5 births in the dataset. Tendai's peak popularity came in 1999 when it ranked #9,912. Use the chart and map above to compare Tendai's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1999 →
- Names of the 1990s →
- Names starting with "T" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
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.