Tao is a rare boys' name that peaked in 2021 and has grown less common since.
Tao is predominantly a boy name. In 2025 it ranked #5,824 for boy births in the United States (and #12,269 across all names), given to 16 babies. Tao was first reported in SSA data in 1970 and peaked in 2021 (20 births).
| Year | U.S. births | U.S. + territories | ♀ Rank | ♂ Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | 16 | — | #5,824 |
| 2024 | 8 | 8 | — | #9,762 |
| 2023 | 12 | 12 | — | #7,250 |
| 2022 | 16 | 16 | — | #5,841 |
| 2021 | 20 | 20 | — | #4,913 |
| 2020 | 9 | 9 | — | #8,654 |
| 2019 | 9 | 9 | — | #8,796 |
| 2018 | 13 | 13 | — | #6,657 |
| 2017 | 11 | 11 | — | #7,486 |
| 2016 | 17 | 17 | — | #5,530 |
| 2015 | 15 | 15 | — | #5,959 |
| 2014 | 13 | 13 | — | #6,584 |
| 2013 | 7 | 7 | — | #10,600 |
| 2012 | 15 | 15 | — | #5,957 |
| 2011 | 15 | 15 | — | #5,916 |
| 2010 | 16 | 16 | — | #5,705 |
| 2009 | 15 | 15 | — | #6,051 |
| 2008 | 9 | 9 | — | #8,926 |
| 2007 | 12 | 12 | — | #7,027 |
| 2006 | 13 | 13 | — | #6,416 |
| 2005 | 10 | 10 | — | #7,586 |
| 2004 | 9 | 9 | — | #8,077 |
| 2003 | 11 | 11 | — | #6,668 |
| 2002 | 15 | 15 | — | #5,108 |
| 2001 | 11 | 11 | — | #6,394 |
| 2000 | 11 | 11 | — | #6,259 |
| 1999 | 6 | 6 | — | #9,776 |
| 1997 | 5 | — | — | #10,636 |
| 1995 | 6 | — | — | #8,761 |
| 1991 | 6 | — | — | #8,127 |
| 1989 | 7 | — | — | #6,852 |
| 1986 | 6 | — | — | #6,634 |
| 1985 | 5 | — | — | #7,461 |
| 1984 | 10 | — | — | #4,173 |
| 1980 | 19 | — | #6,742 | #4,465 |
| 1978 | 5 | — | — | #6,653 |
| 1977 | 5 | — | — | #6,748 |
| 1975 | 5 | — | — | #6,235 |
| 1974 | 7 | — | — | #4,580 |
| 1973 | 9 | — | — | #3,663 |
| 1972 | 8 | — | — | #3,926 |
| 1970 | 6 | — | — | #4,671 |