Thomas
Peaked at #8 nationally in 1880, based on real US Social Security Administration birth records.
Girls vs. boys, all-time
Since 1880, Thomas has been recorded <1% of the time for girls and >99% of the time for boys.
Meaning & origin
Thomas comes from the Aramaic "Ta'oma," meaning "twin." It owes its spread to Thomas the Apostle in the New Testament, remembered as "Doubting Thomas" for questioning Jesus's resurrection, and the name became a fixture of Christian Europe by the medieval period.
Notable people & culture
Founding father Thomas Jefferson and inventor Thomas Edison are among its most prominent American bearers, while medieval theologian Thomas Aquinas shaped centuries of Christian philosophy. Actors Tom Hanks and Tom Cruise carry the shortened form into modern pop culture. Tom and Tommy are its standard nicknames.
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Thomas — Girls (United States)
StablePeak rank
#535
in 1881
Current rank
#17412
in 2024
Years tracked
142
1880–2024
Trend
Stable
Tracked since 1880, Thomas reached its peak popularity for girls in 1881, ranking #535 nationally with 11 babies given the name that year.
Over the last 10 years of data, its rank has slipped from #16351 (2014) to #17412 (2024) — a 6% drop.
As of 2024, Thomas ranks #17412 nationally for girls, with 5 babies given the name that year.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #17,412 | 5 |
| 2023 | #13,326 | 7 |
| 2022 | #10,323 | 10 |
| 2021 | #17,446 | 5 |
| 2020 | #12,044 | 8 |
| 2018 | #13,677 | 7 |
| 2017 | #9,876 | 11 |
| 2016 | #10,792 | 10 |
Thomas — Boys (United States)
RisingPeak rank
#8
in 1880
Current rank
#39
in 2024
Years tracked
145
1880–2024
Trend
Rising
Thomas was already at its most popular for boys in 1880 (the earliest year in this data, ranked #8), with 2,534 babies given the name that year.
Over the last 10 years of data, its rank has climbed from #54 (2014) to #39 (2024) — a 28% improvement.
As of 2024, Thomas ranks #39 nationally for boys, with 6,576 babies given the name that year.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #39 | 6,576 |
| 2023 | #41 | 6,620 |
| 2022 | #45 | 6,507 |
| 2021 | #46 | 6,680 |
| 2020 | #45 | 6,447 |
| 2019 | #47 | 6,666 |
| 2018 | #49 | 6,836 |
| 2017 | #49 | 7,184 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, National Data, 1880–2024.
Similar trajectory
Other names that peaked around the same era and rose or fell on a comparable curve.
Based on US data — boys' names only.
Common Questions
When was Thomas most popular?
Thomas was most popular in 1880, when it ranked #8 nationally for boys — the highest rank it has reached in this data.
Is Thomas becoming more or less popular?
For girls, it's currently stable; for boys, it's currently rising, based on the last decade of SSA data.
How many babies have been named Thomas?
At least 2,360,128 babies have been recorded with the name Thomas in the US since 1880, according to Social Security Administration birth records.
Looking for more name ideas like Thomas? Try the Baby Name Generator or compare it against other names on the Name Trends hub.