Tiffany Overview
- Meaning: Tiffany means the revelation of God, and is connected to the Feast of the Epiphany.
- Gender: Tiffany is traditionally a name for girls.
- Origin: Tiffany has Greek origins and comes from the word Theophania.
- Pronunciation: “TIFF-uh-nee”
- Popularity: Tiffany is a fairly popular name.
- Nicknames: Fan, Fannie, Fanny, Fany, Phany, Taffy, Tee, Teph, Tiff, Tiffi, Tiffie, Tiffy, Tiph, Ti-ti.
- Variations: Theophania, Theophanie, Theophanes, Theophano, Tifennie, Tiffaney, Tiffani, Tiffanie, Tiffeny, Tifinie, Tiphanie, Tiphenie, Tyffany, and Tyffenie.
- Namesake: Tiffany Chin, Tiffany Darwish, Tiffany Haddish, Tiffani Thiessen, Tiffany Trump.
- What Does Tiffany Mean?
- What Is the Origin of the Name Tiffany?
- How Popular Is the Name Tiffany?
- How Do I Pronounce Tiffany?
- Is Tiffany a Boy or Girl Name?
- Variations of Tiffany
- Nicknames for Tiffany
- Similar Names to Tiffany
- Middle Names for Tiffany
- Sibling Names for Tiffany
- Famous People Named Tiffany
- Tiffany in Popular Culture
- Tiffany FAQs
What Does Tiffany Mean?
Tiffany is a beautiful name with a modern yet timeless feel. The name Tiffany means the revelation of God.
This name is an Anglicized version of the Greek girl name Theophania. You can break Theophania down into two words: theos and phainein. Theos means God, and phainein means to show something or bring something to light. Combined, these words create the name Theophania (or the masculine Theophanes), meaning revelation of God (1).
Tiffany closely relates to the Christian Feast of the Epiphany, which celebrates the revelation of Jesus Christ’s birth. The word Epiphany is another version of the word Theophany.
Because of Tiffany’s relationship with the Feast of the Epiphany, Christian culture strongly associates the name Tiffany with feelings of hope, celebration, and renewal.
What Is the Origin of the Name Tiffany?
Although Tiffany is often associated with a modern aesthetic, the name has very ancient origins. The name originated with the Greek name Theophania. The Greek and later Latin word Theophany refers to the revelation of Christ’s birth and is celebrated as the Feast of the Theophany, or the Feast of the Epiphany.
In Old French, Theophany was translated to Tifinie or Tiphanie, and when the name gained popularity in Anglo communities, it became Tiffany. During the Middle Ages, parents would often name girls Tiffany if they were born on or around the Feast of the Epiphany (2).
Interestingly, around the 1600s, English-speaking people started using the word tiffany to describe a specific type of transparent fabric. Although it’s unclear where this usage of the word originated, it may be an abstract reference to the concept of revelation.
Fabric isn’t the only connection that Tiffany has to fashion. The current popularity of the name Tiffany likely comes from the jewelry company Tiffany & Co., founded in 1895. Since the novel and subsequent film Breakfast At Tiffany’s came out in the 1960s, the name Tiffany has been a favorite choice for parents seeking a glamorous and fashionable name.
How Popular Is the Name Tiffany?
Tiffany is a fairly popular name. As of today, the name Tiffany is in the top 1,000 most popular names for baby girls in the United States (3).
While the name Tiffany is now only relatively popular, the name did experience a significant boost in popularity in the last few decades of the twentieth century. The biggest peak in popularity was in 1988, when Tiffany was the thirteenth most popular girl name in the United States.
Today, some consider Tiffany slightly outdated since it was so popular 30 years ago, but the name continues to be relatively well-favored.
How Do I Pronounce Tiffany?
Tiffany is pronounced TIF-uh-nee.
Is Tiffany a Boy or Girl Name?
Tiffany is traditionally a name for girls. Although it could work nicely as a masculine or gender-neutral name, historically the name Tiffany has been popular as a feminine name.
Variations of Tiffany
There are several variations of the name Tiffany. Some variations include:
- Theophania (Greek)
- Theophanie (Greek)
- Theophanes (Greek)
- Theophano (Greek)
- Tifennie (Greek)
- Tiffaney (Greek)
- Tiffani (Greek)
- Tiffanie (French)
- Tiffeny (Greek)
- Tifinie (French)
- Tiphanie (French)
- Tiphenie (Greek)
- Tyffany (Greek)
- Tyffenie (Greek)
Nicknames for Tiffany
There are many cute nicknames for the name Tiffany. Some nickname ideas include:
- Fan
- Fannie
- Fanny
- Fany
- Phany
- Taffy
- Tee
- Teph
- Tiff
- Tiffi
- Tiffie
- Tiffy
- Tiph
- Ti-ti
Similar Names to Tiffany
If you are interested in names like Tiffany, consider names that have a similar sound and aesthetic. Some examples include:
- Bethany
- Brittany
- Melanie
- Stephanie
- Symphony
- Tamara
- Tanya
- Taylor
- Teigan
- Tessa
- Thalia
- Tierney
- Tracy
- Trinity
Middle Names for Tiffany
Some of the best middle names for Tiffany are short, simple girl names. Middle name ideas include:
Sibling Names for Tiffany
For sibling name inspiration, consider looking for other names that were common in medieval times but still have a modern aesthetic.
Names for a Sister
Ideas for sister names include:
Names for a Brother
Ideas for brother names include:
Famous People Named Tiffany
Several famous people in history have been named Tiffany. Some examples include:
- Tiffany Chin: Figure skater.
- Tiffany Darwish: Singer and songwriter.
- Tiffany Haddish: Comedian and actress.
- Tiffani Thiessen: Actress.
- Tiffany Trump: Daughter of Donald Trump.
Tiffany in Popular Culture
The name Tiffany is used frequently in works of fiction. Examples include:
- Tiffany Blum-Deckler: Character in Daria.
- Tiffany Case: Character in Diamonds Are Forever.
- Tiffany Doggett: Character in Orange Is the New Black.
- Tiffany Maxwell: Main character in Silver Linings Playbook.
Tiffany FAQs
Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the name Tiffany.
Is Tiffany a Medieval Name?
Tiffany was a fairly popular name during the Middle Ages. Parents would often name their daughters Tiffany if they were born near the Feast of the Epiphany.
Is Tiffany a Biblical Name?
The name Tiffany does not appear specifically in the Bible. However, the name Tiffany comes from Theophany, which means the revelation of God. Theophany is a theological concept that occurs in both the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Bible.
What Is the Tiffany Paradox?
The Tiffany paradox refers to the dilemma historical fiction writers face when historically accurate content is not perceived as authentic by contemporary audiences. For instance, Tiffany was a common medieval name, but most people assume the name has only been in use since the mid-twentieth century.
