-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QmMZZKipXZBgmpEFqkWgQTNuBBcdmk5I0KHFVtEFj2bAJnKpCH2kl9U/00fyIKlT
 N3PJ/zWTmRhEXH31FFLmTw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000036966-03-000063.txt : 20031029
<SEC-HEADER>0000036966-03-000063.hdr.sgml : 20031029
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031029114922
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000036966-03-000063
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031021
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031029

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			THOMAS ELBERT L JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001234704

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15185
		FILM NUMBER:		03962703

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FIRST TENNESSEE NATIONAL CORP
		STREET 2:		165 MADISON AVE
		CITY:			MEMPHIS
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			38103

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FIRST TENNESSEE NATIONAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000036966
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				620803242
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		165 MADISON AVE
		CITY:			MEMPHIS
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			38103
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9015234638

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		165 MADISON AVE
		CITY:			MEMPHIS
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			38103

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FIRST TENNESSEE BANKS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19600201
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001234704d20031029f3f.xml
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exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2017-02-24</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>11539</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>37.795</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-02-11</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2017-07-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4499</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><
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ng><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>40.13</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-04-20</value><footnoteId id="F7"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-04-20</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10279</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>43.23</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-04-24</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2018-02-19</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</v
alue></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>13260</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>43.23</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-04-24</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2018-07-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5046</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to bu
y)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>43.23</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-04-24</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2020-01-03</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4231</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>44.65</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-05-27</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2018-01-02</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3807</value></underlyingSecu
rityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>44.65</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-05-27</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2019-01-04</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5270</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>44.65</value></conversionOrExerci
sePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-05-27</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2022-02-26</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4478</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Reporting person and spouse are co-trustees and reporting person is sole beneficiary.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Options are exercisable 50% after 4 yrs, 100% after 5 yrs, with vesting accelerated if performance criteria (issuer stock price equals or exceeds $41.69 on 2/23/04 or on 5 consecutive days before 2/24/04) are met. Criteria were met and options vested on 4/25/03.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Option granted in lieu of compensation. Exercise price = 85% of grant date FMV. 
15% discount = amount of compensation deferred.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Options are exercisable 50% after 4 yrs, 100% after 5 yrs, with vesting accelerated if performance criteria (issuer stock price equals or exceeds $47.70 on 4/20/01 or on 5 consecutive days before 4/22/01) are met.</footnote><footnote id="F5">Options are exercisable 50% after 3 yrs, 100% after 4 yrs, with vesting accelerated if issuer stock price equals or exceeds $48.06 on 2/26/05 or on 5 consecutive days before 2/27/05.</footnote><footnote id="F6">Options are exercisable 50% after 3 yrs, 100% after 4 yrs, with vesting accelerated if issuer stock price equals or exceeds $52.98 on 3/3/06 or on 5 consecutive days before 3/4/06.</footnote><footnote id="F7">Options are exercisable 50% after 4 yrs, 100% after 5 yrs, with vesting accelerated if performance criteria (issuer stock price equals or exceeds $54.88 on 4/19/02 or on 5 consecutive days before 4/21/02) are met.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Elbert L., Jr.  Th
omas</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-29</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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