How to say it
TAN · ner
ˈtæn.ər
Masculine
Tanner
Leather tanner
What it means
An English occupational surname for someone who tans leather.
Tanner is an English occupational surname for a person who tanned hides into leather, from the Old English tannian. It rose as a friendly, all-American first name in the 1980s and 90s, fitting the easygoing -er surname set with Tucker and Parker. Plain-spoken and likable. Said TAN-er.
How to spell Tanner
The standard spelling is Tanner. Common variants include Taner, Tannor, but Tanner is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #82 in 1997, currently #475 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed August 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
An occupational surname, 'one who tans leather.'
Who's worn it
- Henry Ossawa Tanner American painter and the first African American artist to gain international acclaim, whose surname anchors the given name
Spelling variants
- Taner
- Tannor
Names with the same feeling
See Tanner from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Tanner mean?
- An English occupational surname for someone who tans leather.
- What does Tanner mean in English?
- In English, Tanner means "Leather tanner." Tanner is an English occupational surname for a person who tanned hides into leather, from the Old English tannian. It rose as a friendly, all-American first name in the 1980s and 90s, fitting the easygoing -er surname set with Tucker and Parker. Plain-spoken and likable. Said TAN-er.
- How do you pronounce Tanner?
- Tanner is pronounced ˈtæn.ər. Say it as TAN-ner, with the stress on the "tan" syllable.
- How do you spell Tanner?
- The standard spelling is Tanner. Common spelling variants include Taner, Tannor.
- Is Tanner a boy or girl name?
- Tanner is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Tanner?
- Tanner ranked #475 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.