Tangerine Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: TAN-juh-reen //ˈtændʒəˌrin//
Origin: English; French
Meaning: English: a type of citrus fruit; French: derived from 'tanger', referring to Tangier, Morocco
Historical & Cultural Background
The name "Tangerine" is derived from the fruit of the same name, which is believed to have originated in China. The etymology traces back to the Arabic word "tanjah," referring to Tangier, a city in Morocco where the fruit was first exported to Europe in the 19th century.
The fruit was named after the city, and the term "tangerine" entered the English language in the late 19th century, reflecting the fruit's association with exoticism and the trade routes of the time. The transition into English occurred through French, where the term "tangerine" was adopted from the earlier Spanish "tangerina," which also references the city of Tangier.
Historically, the tangerine has been significant in various cultures, particularly in Asia, where it has been cultivated for centuries. In Chinese culture, the tangerine is a symbol of good fortune and prosperity, often used in celebrations such as the Lunar New Year.
The fruit's vibrant color and sweet flavor have made it a popular choice in art and literature, symbolizing abundance and joy. The introduction of the tangerine to Western markets coincided with the rise of interest in exotic fruits and flavors during the Victorian era, which further solidified its cultural significance.
The name "Tangerine" as a given name for girls reflects this rich cultural heritage, embodying qualities of brightness and cheerfulness associated with the fruit. While not commonly used as a traditional name, its unique and vibrant connotation has led to its occasional adoption in modern contexts.
The name may also evoke associations with nature and freshness, aligning with a broader trend of using botanical names in naming practices. Overall, "Tangerine" carries with it a legacy of cultural symbolism and historical significance that transcends its origins.
Fictional characters named Tangerine
The following list of fictional characters named Tangerine is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Tangerine is a fictional character from the film Bullet Train. They are an assassin who works alongside their brother Lemon, and together they navigate a high-stakes mission on a train.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Tangerine, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Tangerine. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Tangerine was first seen in the United States in 1963.
Tangerine has ranked as high as #1082 nationally, which occurred in 1972, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Tangerine has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Tangerine is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Tangerine was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Tangerine
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
No state data available for this year.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Tangerine.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 5 |
| 1977 | 5 |
| 1972 | 9 |
| 1971 | 8 |
| 1964 | 7 |
| 1963 | 5 |