Tawni is of Native American origin, specifically from the Powhatan tribe's Algonquin language group. It means "first," and was used to denote a person who is a pioneer or trailblazer in their family or community. The name gained popularity in the United States during the 20th century and has since been embraced by many families looking for unique and meaningful names for their daughters.
The name Tawni experienced a surge in popularity between the late 1950s and mid-1960s, peaking at 41 births in 1965, followed by a steady decline throughout the decades. By the 2000s, it had become quite rare, with fewer than 20 births per year from 2000 onwards, and only single-digit numbers since 2007. In total, there were 1876 births named Tawni between 1950 and 2011.