boy's name
Tiller
TIL-er (English)
- Origin English
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 2
- Letters 6
- Popularity Rare
- Births on record 61
Tiller is a rare boy's name from an English occupational surname meaning "one who tills the soil," a farmer. It's especially linked with Hampshire in England, and as a first name it's a recent American choice that also calls to mind the steering lever on a boat.
- Tiller is a name of English origin.
- Peaked in 2020, when 9 babies were given the name.
- It is a recent arrival in the birth records.
- Today about 1 in 414,422 babies in the United States is given this name.
- First appears in US birth records in 2016.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Tiller Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 2010s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 2010s | 23 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 38 |
What Tiller Means
Tiller means a farmer or farm laborer. As a name it suggests honest, physical work, and for some parents the sailing word adds the idea of steering a course.
Where Tiller Comes From
The verb till goes back to Old English tilian, to strive or labor, which later narrowed to working the soil. Middle English tiliere gave the occupational surname, recorded in southern England, especially Hampshire. House of Names notes that Tiller can also be a variant of Tyler in some families. The boat's tiller has a different origin, from Anglo-French telier, a weaver's beam. Tillman is a related occupational word. Its use as a first name is very recent, part of the same move toward working surnames as Sawyer, Thatcher and Fletcher.
Tiller in Use
Farming occupational names have a strong current appeal for American parents. In this family Tiller is among the rarest, which adds to its interest for those who want a distinctive name.
How Popular Is Tiller?
In 2025, Tiller was given to 8 babies in the United States. It is a rare choice.
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 Tiller
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Tiller Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Tiller over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Tiller
- English TIL-er
Sibling Names for Tiller
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Tiller — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Tiller
What does the name Tiller mean?
One who tills the soil, a farmer.
Is Tiller a real name?
Yes. It's an English surname that's now rarely used as a boy's first name.
Is Tiller related to a boat's tiller?
No. The boat word has a separate origin, though many parents like the association.
How popular is the name Tiller?
In 2025, Tiller was given to 8 babies in the United States. It is a rare choice.
Is Tiller a girl's or a boy's name?
Tiller is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Tiller?
Tiller has 2 syllables.
When was Tiller most popular?
Tiller peaked in 2020, when 9 babies were given the name. It is a recent arrival in the birth records.
Is Tiller a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Tiller currently ranks #9,429 in the United States. It is a recent arrival in the birth records. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.