From Greek 'Theophania' meaning 'manifestation of God', traditionally given to girls born at Epiphany.
Tiffany has one of the most surprising histories in modern naming. It comes from the medieval English form Tiffania, ultimately derived from the Greek Theophania, meaning "manifestation of God" or "divine appearance." The name was associated with the Christian feast of Epiphany, and in medieval Europe it was sometimes given to girls born around that holy day.
Although many people think of Tiffany as a modern invention, it is in fact a very old name with roots in late antique Greek religion and medieval Christian custom. Its cultural image changed dramatically over the centuries. After surviving in older forms, the name re-emerged in the modern English-speaking world and eventually became strongly associated with glamour, polish, and American luxury, thanks in part to Tiffany & Co.
and to the shimmering aura created by film and fashion, especially Breakfast at Tiffany’s. By the late twentieth century, it had become a major favorite in the United States, often carrying a bright, stylish, and unmistakably contemporary feel. That popularity also shaped perception.
In some periods Tiffany was treated as the quintessential 1980s and 1990s name, so familiar that its medieval pedigree was almost forgotten. Today, that contrast is part of its fascination: a name with Byzantine roots and church-calendar origins that came to symbolize modern chic. As fashions cycle, Tiffany can read as nostalgic, glamorous, or newly rediscovered. Its story is a reminder that names often travel in unexpected ways, passing from liturgy to everyday life, from medieval feast days to jewelry windows and pop culture memory.