Meaning & History
Tanguy is a French and Breton masculine given name, derived from the Breton elements tan "fire" and gi "dog", giving the meaning "fire-dog". The name is most famously associated with a 6th-century Breton saint – Saint Tanguy – although details of his life are largely legendary.
Notable Bearers
While the given name has declined in widespread popularity, it remains common in Brittany and is found throughout France. A well-known modern bearer is martial artist and actor Jean-Claude Van Damme, though his name is not Tanguy. However, the name garnered international fame through the 2001 French comedy film Tanguy starring Éric Berger. The 2010 United States Census reported the surname Tanguy as extremely rare in America, with only 149 individuals, predominantly White (89.93%).