Thurston: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#13,695

among boys · ↓5,437 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Thurston

How common

1 in 341,615

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1918

73 babies

All-time total

3,501

#2,285 all-time among boys

First recorded

1884

in Social Security records

Thurston popularity over time

3,501 babies have been named Thurston since 1884, 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

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	7	1	–	#841
1890s	14	1	+100%	#798
1900s	65	7	+364%	#832
1910s	428	43	+558%	#679
1920s	542	54	+27%	#803
1930s	358	36	-34%	#1,012
1940s	371	37	+4%	#914
1950s	338	34	-9%	#1,128
1960s	296	30	-12%	#1,362
1970s	274	27	-7%	#1,328
1980s	243	24	-11%	#1,905
1990s	164	16	-33%	#2,462
2000s	173	17	+5%	#4,377
2010s	172	17	-1%	#3,781
2020s (to 2025)	56	9	-46%	#6,638

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.

How old are people named Thurston?

The median living Thurston is about 51 years old; half are between 29 and 67. An estimated 1,800 people named Thurston are alive in the United States today.

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

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

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

1 Thurston Moore American musician (born 1958) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Thurston?

The median living Thurston is about 51 years old. Half of all living Thurstons are between 29 and 67 years old.

How many people named Thurston are alive today?

An estimated 1,800 people named Thurston are alive in the United States, based on 3,501 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

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).

Names like Thurston

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

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