Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1965

Tor

Gender Boy Rank 2025 #7,148

Tor (Þor) is a Nordic masculine given name derived from the name of the Norse god Thor.

Rank 2025
#7,148
among boys
Babies in 2025
12
named Tor
How common
1 in 142,340
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1965
30 babies
All-time total
886
#5,544 all-time among boys
First recorded
1949
in Social Security records

Tor popularity over time

886 babies have been named Tor since 1949, 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 1965Boys

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 – – – –
1920s – – – –
1930s – – – –
1940s 5 1 – #4,165
1950s 49 5 +880% #2,724
1960s 150 15 +206% #1,426
1970s 146 15 -3% #2,071
1980s 88 9 -40% #2,905
1990s 118 12 +34% #3,619
2000s 143 14 +21% #3,752
2010s 130 13 -9% #5,377
2020s (to 2025) 57 10 -27% #5,953

The story of Tor

Tor is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #7,148 in 2025 with 12 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1949, 886 American babies have been named Tor. Its peak came in 1965, when 30 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 Tor stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Tor?

The median living Tor is about 34 years old; half are between 17 and 53. An estimated 800 people named Tor are alive in the United States today.

median 34 020406080100

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

Tor year by year

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

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 12 #7,148
2024 – –
2023 7 #10,703
2022 10 #8,231
2021 13 #6,645
2020 15 #5,953
2019 13 #6,736
2018 8 #9,583
2017 8 #9,605
2016 15 #6,031
2015 11 #7,455
2014 16 #5,697
2013 17 #5,377
2012 12 #7,003
2011 14 #6,224
2010 16 #5,711
2009 12 #7,194
2008 10 #8,249
2007 20 #4,785
2006 10 #7,945
2005 19 #4,620
2004 13 #6,105
2003 12 #6,225
2002 10 #6,995
2001 15 #5,118
2000 22 #3,752
1995 5 #10,201
1990 16 #3,760
1985 5 #7,505
1980 13 #3,419
1975 13 #3,065
1970 18 #2,206
1965 30 #1,426
1960 9 #3,057
1955 6 #3,852
1950 6 #3,650
1945 – –
1940 – –
1935 – –
1930 – –
1925 – –
1920 – –
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Tor

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

  1. 1 Tor Johnson Tor Johnson Swedish professional wrestler and actor (1903–1971) 1902–1971 · Contemporary
  2. 2 Tor Hogne Aarøy Norwegian footballer (born 1977) Contemporary
  3. 3 Tor Arne Hetland Tor Arne Hetland Norwegian cross-country skier (born 1974) Contemporary
  4. 4 Tor Endresen Tor Endresen Norwegian singer and composer b. 1959 · Contemporary
  5. 5 Toró Brazilian footballer b. 1986 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Tor?

The median living Tor is about 34 years old. Half of all living Tors are between 17 and 53 years old.

How many people named Tor are alive today?

An estimated 800 people named Tor are alive in the United States, based on 886 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Tor mean?

Tor (Þor) is a Nordic masculine given name derived from the name of the Norse god Thor.

How popular is the name Tor in 2025?

Tor ranked #7,148 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 12 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Tor?

886 babies have been named Tor in the United States since 1949, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Tor most popular?

Tor peaked in 1965, when 30 newborns received the name.

Is Tor a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Tor rising or falling?

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

Who are famous people named Tor?

Well-known people named Tor include Tor Johnson (actor), Tor Hogne Aarøy (soccer player), Tor Arne Hetland (skier).

Names like Tor

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

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