Thurston
A surname derived from the Old Norse given name Þorsteinn, brought to England by Vikings.
Every Thurston since 1884 — 3,501 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Thurston
Thurston is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #13,695 in 2025 with 5 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1884, 3,501 American babies have been named Thurston. Its peak came in 1918, when 73 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1910s.
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 Thurston stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Thurston year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | #13,695 |
| 2024 | 10 | #8,258 |
| 2023 | 8 | #9,658 |
| 2022 | 9 | #8,912 |
| 2021 | 13 | #6,638 |
| 2020 | 11 | #7,450 |
| 2019 | 12 | #7,130 |
| 2018 | 7 | #10,633 |
| 2017 | 11 | #7,496 |
| 2016 | 16 | #5,769 |
| 2015 | 19 | #5,035 |
| 2014 | 15 | #5,971 |
| 2013 | 24 | #4,168 |
| 2012 | 16 | #5,697 |
| 2011 | 28 | #3,781 |
| 2010 | 24 | #4,221 |
| 2009 | 18 | #5,292 |
| 2008 | 23 | #4,377 |
| 2007 | 21 | #4,624 |
| 2006 | 21 | #4,502 |
| 2005 | 20 | #4,450 |
| 2004 | 18 | #4,776 |
| 2003 | 15 | #5,239 |
| 2002 | 11 | #6,485 |
| 2001 | 13 | #5,638 |
| 2000 | 13 | #5,554 |
| 1995 | 16 | #4,032 |
| 1990 | 10 | #5,337 |
| 1985 | 21 | #2,494 |
| 1980 | 30 | #1,905 |
| 1975 | 19 | #2,357 |
| 1970 | 32 | #1,518 |
| 1965 | 30 | #1,424 |
| 1960 | 34 | #1,381 |
| 1955 | 29 | #1,452 |
| 1950 | 28 | #1,389 |
| 1945 | 50 | #914 |
| 1940 | 33 | #1,180 |
| 1935 | 34 | #1,147 |
| 1930 | 45 | #1,036 |
| 1925 | 45 | #1,038 |
| 1920 | 67 | #824 |
| 1915 | 64 | #756 |
| 1910 | 16 | #779 |
| 1905 | 9 | #913 |
| 1900 | 11 | #832 |
| 1895 | 5 | #1,225 |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Thurston
- Thurston Moore Musician · b. 1958
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Thurston mean?
A surname derived from the Old Norse given name Þorsteinn, brought to England by Vikings.
How popular is the name Thurston in 2025?
Thurston ranked #13,695 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 5 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Thurston?
3,501 babies have been named Thurston in the United States since 1884, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Thurston most popular?
Thurston peaked in 1918, when 73 newborns received the name.
Is Thurston a boy or girl name?
Thurston is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Thurston rising or falling?
Thurston is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Thurston?
Well-known people named Thurston include Thurston Moore (musician).