Tarsus as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Tarsus

What is the meaning of the name Tarsus ?

The baby name Tarsus is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈtɑːr.səs/ (TAR-səs).

Tarsus is Greek in Origin.

Tarsus is a rare toponymic given name taken from the ancient city of Tarsus in Cilicia (now southern Turkey), renowned as the birthplace of Paul the Apostle. Via Latin Tarsus and Greek Tarsos (Ταρσός), it carries the sense “from Tarsus” or “of Tarsus.” The Greek common noun tarsos also denoted a flat surface, wicker frame, or the sole/instep of the foot, which later yielded the anatomical term tarsus in scientific Latin - an etymological echo sometimes associated with the name.

Usage as a personal name is sporadic in English and across Europe, chosen by parents drawn to biblical history or classical antiquity. Variants and related forms include Tarso (Portuguese, Spanish, Italian) and Tarsos (modern Greek); Tarsian serves as an English adjectival/demonym. While usually given to boys, its place-name character makes it potentially unisex. Cognates such as Taras or Tarasius are separate Greek names.