Tate

The family name gained enduring cultural prominence through Sir Henry Tate (1819-1899), the British sugar magnate whose art collection founded the Tate Gallery in London in 1897, now one of the most important networks of modern art museums in the

world.

In American literature and film, the name is associated with actress Sharon Tate (1943-1969), the poet Allen Tate of the Southern Fugitive movement, and the fictional characters Detective Tate in various crime dramas.

Tatum O’Neal’s success in the 1970s reinforced the related name Tatum, which shares the same root.

As a first name for boys, Tate entered the U.S. Social Security Administration top 1000 in 1986 and has climbed steadily.

It broke into the top 400 during the 2010s and sits comfortably there, buoyed by a broader trend favoring crisp, 1-syllable boys’ names such as Cole, Jace, and Reed. A smaller number of girls have also received the name in the United States.

Contemporary bearers include actor Tate Donovan, NASCAR driver Tate Fogleman, and American football player Tate Martell. The name is most popular in the United States, Canada, and Australia, with modest but growing usage in the United Kingdom.