Thomas
Meaningtwin · Aramaic
- US rank
- #34
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #8 in 1955
6,917 babies were named Thomas in the US in 2025. It has climbed 11 places in five years.
Nicknames & spellings
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Thomas you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Thomas
Thomas Edison
American inventor and businessman (1847–1931)
Choose Thomas and your child shares a first name with Thomas Edison, an American inventor and businessman. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Thomas, like who?” Thomas Edison's Wikipedia article is available in 254 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Thomas Edison on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Louis Bachrach, Bachrach Studios, restored by Michel Vuijlsteke, Public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 247 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Thomas, 6,917 babies in all. In a school of 500 kids, there'd probably be one other Thomas.
- HistoryThomas has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Thomass, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1955, when it ranked #8. Today it's #34, so it could be due a comeback.
- Where it's lovedThomas is most popular in Mississippi, where it ranks #10, followed by Utah (#12) and Minnesota (#14). It makes the top 1,000 in almost every state.
- MeaningIn Aramaic, Thomas means “twin”. Our records link it to English and Greek roots.
- OriginThomas is the #7 most popular Greek boy name in the US. That's out of 2,023 Greek boy and unisex names in our list.
About the name Thomas
Thomas is a boy name of English and Greek origin meaning “twin”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with T and ending in “-mas”. US birth records list Thomas for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1955, when it ranked #8 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #34, with 6,917 babies.
Origin:English namesGreek names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 21,694 | 46 boys |
| 1890s | 18,515 | 54 boys |
| 1900s | 16,123 | 62 boys |
| 1910s | 13,884 | 72 boys |
| 1920s | 14,617 | 68 boys |
| 1930s | 17,377 | 58 boys |
| 1940s | 23,368 | 43 boys |
| 1950s | 22,595 | 44 boys |
| 1960s | 16,911 | 59 boys |
| 1970s | 11,254 | 89 boys |
| 1980s | 9,637 | 104 boys |
| 1990s | 7,511 | 133 boys |
| 2000s | 5,129 | 195 boys |
| 2010s | 3,725 | 268 boys |
| 2020s | 3,840 | 260 boys |
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Thomas
What does the name Thomas mean?
Thomas means “twin” in Aramaic.
What is the origin of the name Thomas?
Thomas has English, Greek roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Thomas a boy or girl name?
Thomas is a boy name, though a few girls get it too.
How popular is the name Thomas?
Thomas ranked #34 for US boys in 2025, given to 6,917 babies. Its best year was 1955 (#8).