Tom
Meaningtwin · English form of Thomas
- US rank
- #2,183
- Syllables
- 1
- Peak
- #40 in 1880
65 babies were named Tom in the US in 2025. It has climbed 140 places in five years.
Found on lists
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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 Tom you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Tom
Tom Stoppard
Czech–English playwright (1937–2025)
Choose Tom and your child shares a first name with Tom Stoppard, a Czech–English playwright. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Tom, like who?” Tom Stoppard's Wikipedia article is available in 69 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Tom Stoppard on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Philip Romano, CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 26,247 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Tom, 65 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Tom would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryTom has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Toms, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1880, when it ranked #40. Today it's #2,183, so it could be due a comeback.
- TrendTom has climbed 140 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #2,183. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- MeaningTom is an English form of Thomas, which means “twin”. Our records link it to English and Greek roots.
About the name Tom
Tom is a boy name of English and Greek origin meaning “twin”. It has 3 letters and 1 syllable, starting with T and ending in “-tom”. US birth records list Tom for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1880, when it ranked #40 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #2,183, with 65 babies.
Origin:English namesGreek names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 3,456 | 289 boys |
| 1890s | 2,925 | 342 boys |
| 1900s | 2,439 | 410 boys |
| 1910s | 1,266 | 790 boys |
| 1920s | 1,082 | 924 boys |
| 1930s | 1,553 | 644 boys |
| 1940s | 2,017 | 496 boys |
| 1950s | 1,157 | 865 boys |
| 1960s | 1,471 | 680 boys |
| 1970s | 289 | 3,465 boys |
| 1980s | 108 | 9,275 boys |
| 1990s | 74 | 13,461 boys |
| 2000s | 55 | 18,165 boys |
| 2010s | 42 | 23,906 boys |
| 2020s | 33 | 30,030 boys |
Other spellings of Tom
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 Tom
What does the name Tom mean?
Tom means “twin” in English, as a form of Thomas.
What is the origin of the name Tom?
Tom has English, Greek roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Tom a boy or girl name?
Tom is a boy name.
How popular is the name Tom?
Tom ranked #2,183 for US boys in 2025, given to 65 babies. Its best year was 1880 (#40).