Tanager was named after the tanager, any of the numerous American, passerine birds. The brightly colored males are unmusical and inhabit woodlands. Tanager, a minesweeper and the second United States Navy warship with that name, was laid down at Lorain, Ohio, on 29 March 1944 by the American Ship Building Company; launched on 9 December 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Thomas Slingluff; and commissioned on 28 July 1945, Lt. Comdr. Oscar B. Lundgren, USNR, in command.