Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1961

Thom

Meaning A surname transferred from the given name Gender Boy Rank 2025 Below top lists

A surname transferred from the given name.

Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Thom
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1961
32 babies
All-time total
844
#5,716 all-time among boys
First recorded
1917
in Social Security records

Thom popularity over time

844 babies have been named Thom since 1917, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.010.010.020.0218801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1948Boys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s – – – –
1910s 7 1 – #3,517
1920s 6 1 -14% #4,151
1930s 32 3 +433% #2,632
1940s 178 18 +456% #1,398
1950s 187 19 +5% #1,481
1960s 194 19 +4% #1,434
1970s 99 10 -49% #2,451
1980s 93 9 -6% #3,019
1990s 28 3 -70% #6,766
2000s – – – –
2010s 15 2 – #13,860
2020s (to 2025) 5 1 -44% #13,881

The story of Thom

Thom is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1917, 844 American babies have been named Thom. Its peak came in 1961, when 32 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 Thom stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Thom?

The median living Thom is about 61 years old; half are between 49 and 71. An estimated 600 people named Thom are alive in the United States today.

median 61 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Thom year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 – –
2024 – –
2023 – –
2022 – –
2021 5 #13,881
2020 – –
2019 5 #13,933
2018 – –
2017 – –
2016 5 #13,993
2015 – –
2014 – –
2013 5 #13,860
2012 – –
2011 – –
2010 – –
2009 – –
2008 – –
2007 – –
2006 – –
2005 – –
2004 – –
2003 – –
2002 – –
2001 – –
2000 – –
1995 – –
1990 7 #7,108
1985 9 #4,660
1980 13 #3,417
1975 6 #5,403
1970 13 #2,724
1965 14 #2,260
1960 18 #1,969
1955 20 #1,788
1950 18 #1,808
1945 16 #1,766
1940 – –
1935 9 #2,697
1930 – –
1925 6 #4,151
1920 – –
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Thom

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Thom Tillis Thom Tillis American politician (born 1960) Contemporary
  2. 2 Thom Barry American actor b. 1950 · Contemporary
  3. 3 Thom Mayne Thom Mayne American architect b. 1944 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Thom, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Thom?

The median living Thom is about 61 years old. Half of all living Thoms are between 49 and 71 years old.

How many people named Thom are alive today?

An estimated 600 people named Thom are alive in the United States, based on 844 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Thom mean?

A surname transferred from the given name.

How popular is the name Thom in 2025?

Thom did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Thom?

844 babies have been named Thom in the United States since 1917, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Thom most popular?

Thom peaked in 1961, when 32 newborns received the name.

Is Thom a boy or girl name?

Thom is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Thom rising or falling?

Thom is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Thom?

Well-known people named Thom include Thom Tillis (politician), Thom Barry (actor), Thom Mayne (architect).

Names like Thom

Names that sound and feel close to Thom: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Thom with similar names → More names starting with T →