Tennessee

Native American, Cherokee, place-name
"bend in the river or meeting place"

Tennessee Origin and Meaning

The name Tennessee is a girl's name of Native American origin meaning "bend in the river or meeting place".

Young rocker Tennessee Thomas has brought this former one-person name over to the girls' side -- though the census roles of North Carolina in 1850 included a female named Tennessee and called Tincy.

Reese Witherspoon's using it for her baby son brought it back for the boys, though (male) playwright Tennessee Williams is arguably the most famous bearer. Tennessee is an intriguing place name for a person of any gender.

# 999 in the US

Tennessee Rank in US Top 1000

Famous People Named Tennessee

  • Tennessee ThomasAmerican musician and actress
  • Tennessee ("Tennie") Celeste ClaflinAmerican suffragist; sister of Victoria Woodhull and mistress of Cornelius Vanderbilt
  • Tennessee WatsonAmerican artist, independent journalist and educator
  • Emily Tennessee Donelson (18071836), niece of Rachel Donelson Jackson, the wife of U.S. President Andrew Jackson; served as White House hostess and de facto First Lady of the United States (Rachel died just days after her husband's election and before his inauguration in 1829—therefore she never served as First Lady, a role assumed by Emily)

Tennessee in Pop Culture

  • Tennessee is one of the 50 American states.
  • NEEDTOBREATH has a song titled 'Girl Named Tennessee'