The name Tesla, of Slavic origin and meaning "thunderbolt," is often associated with Nikola Tesla, the influential Serbian-American inventor and engineer known for his contributions to the modern electric supply system. This name, which gained popularity in the late 19th century due to Tesla's fame, has since become a unisex given name. In some cultures, it may be interpreted as a virtue name symbolizing electricity or power.
The name Tesla experienced varying popularity from 1976 to 1999, with peaks of 10 births each in 1989 and 1990, followed by a gradual decrease until reaching another peak of 10 births in 1996. The total number of babies named Tesla during this period was 74.