boy's name
Teak
TEEK (English)
- Origin Malayalam, Portuguese
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 1
- Letters 4
- Births on record 62
Teak is a rare boy's name from the hardwood tree. The English word dates to the 1690s and came through Portuguese teca from Malayalam tēkka, a language of southern India. It's a short nature name that suggests something solid and durable.
- Teak is a name of Malayalam, Portuguese origin.
- Peaked in 2019, when 9 babies were given the name.
- Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
- First appears in US birth records in 1983.
- 1 syllable, with the stress on syllable 1.
Teak Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1980s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 5 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 18 |
| 2010s | 28 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 11 |
What Teak Means
Teak means the teak tree, whose dense, weather-resistant wood is prized for ships and furniture. As a name it carries strength and durability with a warm, natural feel.
Where Teak Comes From
English borrowed teak in the 1690s from Portuguese teca, which came from Malayalam tēkka, a word related to Tamil tekku and Telugu teku. Portuguese traders met the tree on the Malabar coast, and its name traveled with the timber. Teak, Tectona grandis, is native to South and Southeast Asia, and Myanmar holds a large share of the world's natural teak forests. Its oily, durable wood made it the classic material for ship decks. As a given name it's new and very uncommon, following tree names such as Oak and Ash and appearing occasionally in American records since the 1980s.
Teak in Use
Teak fits a group of hard, one-syllable boys' nature names such as Flint and Reed. Its tropical origin sets it apart from the northern trees that usually supply such names.
How Popular Is Teak?
In 2024, Teak was given to 5 babies in the United States. It was given to fewer than five babies in the most recent year of published figures for the United States.
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Teak
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Teak Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Teak over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Teak
- English TEEK
Sibling Names for Teak
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Teak — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Teak
What does the name Teak mean?
It's the name of the hardwood tree, from Malayalam tēkka.
Is Teak a real name?
Yes, though it's very rare.
Where does the word teak come from?
Southern India, through the Portuguese traders who met the tree there.
How popular is the name Teak?
In 2024, Teak was given to 5 babies in the United States. It was given to fewer than five babies in the most recent year of published figures for the United States.
Is Teak a girl's or a boy's name?
Teak is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Teak?
Teak has 1 syllable.
When was Teak most popular?
Teak peaked in 2019, when 9 babies were given the name. Its usage has held steady over the past decade.