One of the hot two-syllable T names of the nineties (along with Tyler, Trevor, and Taylor), and well represented on soap operas; Tanner is still widely used, but its popularity is declining.

Barker may be appealing to parents looking for a name with many layers - not only does it share a meaning with the more common Shepherd and Tanner, it also brings to mind the bark of a tree, making this a surreptitious choice for nature enthusiasts.

In centuries gone past, no one would have considered this occupational surname for their daughter; tanners were associated with terrible smells and stained skin as a result of the processes used to treat hides to make leather. But now, we see increasing numbers of parents in the US choosing this for their girls. Given the popularity of other two-syllable T names like Taylor and Tyler, Tanner has some appeal for those looking for a non-frilly name for their girls. For what it is worth, we prefer the Greek name Tana, which has an infinitely more pleasant meaning.