Thornton
Meaningthorn bush settlement · English
- US rank
- #7,679
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #430 in 1888
10 babies were named Thornton in the US in 2025. It has climbed 1,060 places in five years.
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US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Thornton you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 169,492 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Thornton, 10 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Thornton would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryThornton has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Thorntons, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1888, when it ranked #430. Today it's #7,679, so it could be due a comeback.
- TrendThornton has climbed 1,060 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #7,679. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- MeaningIn English, Thornton means “thorn bush settlement”.
About the name Thornton
Thornton is a boy name of English origin meaning “thorn bush settlement”. It has 8 letters and 2 syllables, starting with T and ending in “-ton”. US birth records list Thornton for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 141 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1888, when it ranked #430 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #7,679, with 10 babies.
Origin:English names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 115 | 8,678 boys |
| 1890s | 80 | 12,473 boys |
| 1900s | 78 | 12,888 boys |
| 1910s | 71 | 14,004 boys |
| 1920s | 50 | 19,988 boys |
| 1930s | 33 | 30,111 boys |
| 1940s | 25 | 39,541 boys |
| 1950s | 15 | 64,558 boys |
| 1960s | 11 | 92,678 boys |
| 1970s | 8.3 | 120,337 boys |
| 1980s | 5.5 | 182,815 boys |
| 1990s | 6.8 | 146,413 boys |
| 2000s | 4.4 | 229,358 boys |
| 2010s | 4.8 | 210,526 boys |
| 2020s | 3.4 | 295,567 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 Thornton
What does the name Thornton mean?
Thornton means “thorn bush settlement” in English.
What is the origin of the name Thornton?
Thornton has English roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Thornton a boy or girl name?
Thornton is a boy name.
How popular is the name Thornton?
Thornton ranked #7,679 for US boys in 2025, given to 10 babies. Its best year was 1888 (#430).