Thad
A diminutive of the male given names Thaddeus and Thaddaeus, sometimes also used as a formal given name.
Every Thad since 1880 — 8,224 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Thad
Thad is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #9,610 in 2025 with 8 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 8,224 American babies have been named Thad. Its peak came in 1967, when 365 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1960s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Thad stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Thad year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 8 | #9,610 |
| 2024 | — | — | 5 | #14,036 |
| 2023 | — | — | 9 | #8,847 |
| 2022 | — | — | 9 | #8,911 |
| 2021 | — | — | 17 | #5,535 |
| 2020 | — | — | 8 | #9,470 |
| 2019 | — | — | 17 | #5,536 |
| 2018 | — | — | 14 | #6,303 |
| 2017 | — | — | 18 | #5,279 |
| 2016 | — | — | 12 | #7,100 |
| 2015 | — | — | 18 | #5,266 |
| 2014 | — | — | 26 | #3,996 |
| 2013 | — | — | 19 | #4,956 |
| 2012 | — | — | 29 | #3,701 |
| 2011 | — | — | 20 | #4,805 |
| 2010 | — | — | 24 | #4,220 |
| 2009 | — | — | 23 | #4,417 |
| 2008 | — | — | 23 | #4,376 |
| 2007 | — | — | 20 | #4,783 |
| 2006 | — | — | 36 | #3,079 |
| 2005 | — | — | 30 | #3,381 |
| 2004 | — | — | 26 | #3,622 |
| 2003 | — | — | 25 | #3,618 |
| 2002 | — | — | 18 | #4,476 |
| 2001 | — | — | 32 | #2,921 |
| 2000 | — | — | 38 | #2,522 |
| 1995 | — | — | 33 | #2,395 |
| 1990 | — | — | 60 | #1,462 |
| 1985 | — | — | 62 | #1,212 |
| 1980 | — | — | 80 | #1,017 |
| 1975 | — | — | 156 | #663 |
| 1970 | — | — | 260 | #500 |
| 1965 | — | — | 136 | #644 |
| 1960 | — | — | 118 | #719 |
| 1955 | — | — | 85 | #800 |
| 1950 | — | — | 45 | #1,061 |
| 1945 | — | — | 50 | #913 |
| 1940 | — | — | 51 | #890 |
| 1935 | — | — | 45 | #954 |
| 1930 | — | — | 52 | #941 |
| 1925 | — | — | 47 | #1,008 |
| 1920 | — | — | 47 | #1,017 |
| 1915 | — | — | 36 | #1,081 |
| 1910 | — | — | 8 | #1,297 |
| 1905 | — | — | 14 | #661 |
| 1900 | — | — | 14 | #695 |
| 1895 | — | — | 11 | #676 |
| 1890 | — | — | 8 | #805 |
| 1885 | — | — | 10 | #636 |
| 1880 | — | — | 6 | #900 |
Famous people named Thad
- Thad Jones Musician · 1923–1986
- Thad Cochran Politician · 1937–2019
- Thad Luckinbill Actor · b. 1975
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Thad mean?
A diminutive of the male given names Thaddeus and Thaddaeus, sometimes also used as a formal given name.
How popular is the name Thad in 2025?
Thad ranked #9,610 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 8 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Thad?
8,224 babies have been named Thad in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Thad most popular?
Thad peaked in 1967, when 365 newborns received the name.
Is Thad a boy or girl name?
Thad is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Thad rising or falling?
Thad is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Thad?
Well-known people named Thad include Thad Jones (musician), Thad Cochran (politician), Thad Luckinbill (actor).