Toma
Meaningoften to soar · Japanese
Toma is a Japanese boy name often meaning “to soar”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- GenerationToma peaked in 1974, which makes it a Gen X name. The typical Toma you'd meet today is about 51 years old.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Toma would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 65,789 baby boys got the name in 2025.
- HistoryToma first shows up in US birth records in 1929, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 96 years since.
US births per million boys, 1973–2025
Similar names
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Toma
Toma is a boy name of Japanese origin meaning “often to soar”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It hit its peak in the 1970s and is climbing again now. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Japanese names
More Japanese boy names
- Unisex name: Asa · healer
- Unisex name: Rio · river
- Unisex name: Akari · light, brightness
- Boy name: Kenzo · often healthy third son
- Boy name: Kenji · often strong second son
- Unisex name: Ren · often lotus
- Unisex name: Zen · meditation
- Unisex name: Mars · god of war
Questions about the name Toma
What does the name Toma mean?
Toma means “often to soar” and comes from Japanese. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Kakeru (“to soar”).
What is the origin of the name Toma?
Toma is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Asa (“healer”), Rio (“river”), Akari (“light, brightness”) and Kenzo (“often healthy third son”).
Is Toma a boy or girl name?
Toma is a boy name. In 2025, 26 US boys were named Toma.
How popular is the name Toma?
Toma ranked #4,050 for US boys in 2025, given to 26 babies. Its best year was 1974, when it reached #882. Over the last five years it has climbed 1,401 places.
What names are similar to Toma?
If you like Toma, you might also like Kakeru.
What should I know before naming my baby Toma?
Toma is a Japanese boy name often meaning “to soar”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.