Thomas Name Meaning, Origin, Popularity & Nicknames

Thomas Name Meaning and Origin

Thomas is a name that has always been widely popular. The popularity of the name can be observed since the 1880s, with it being the most used from 1930 to 1960. The name remained one of the top names in the 1900s and continues to do so in the present as well.

What Does Thomas Mean?

The name is of Hebrew origin, where the meaning of Thomas is “twin.” The spelling of the name is organic, where its initial letter is taken from the Greek New Testament. The meaning of the name is similar in German and Portuguese origin as well. This name is one of the most popular British surnames and is widely used in Wales and Cornwall. The influence of French pronunciation in the name is evident since the name begins with “th” rather than “t.” Thomas is one such name that never goes out of style and is expected to be used more in the upcoming decade.

Origin

The origin of the name Thomas is from the Hebrew word “ta’om,” which means “twin.” The name catered to the Aramaic name “Taoma,” followed by its development into Thomas. The name has biblical connotations and is derived from the New Testament, where Thomas is one of the 12 apostles of Jesus. Therefore, this name is incredibly popular among various cultures and nationalities and is significantly popular among Christians.

Gender

Male

Pronunciation

  • Tho-mas
  • Tha-mas

Syllables

Two syllables

Length/Letter

Six letters

Name Variations/Spellings

The other spellings for Thomas indicate the variation of the name in respect to its spelling and origin. Thomas name variations give insight regarding the name’s cultural significance across the globe. Therefore, this list includes the variation of the name found across different cultures and origins:

Name Origin
Toma Serbian
Tomos Welsh
Tomai Greek
Tamas Aramaic
Toomas Estonian
Tomaso Italian
Tomás Spanish
Tavish Scottish
Foma Russian
Tamati Maori

How Popular is The Name Thomas?

The popularity of the name Thomas has been consistently present since the 1800s. It is one of the most famous last names as compared to the first names. Despite that, the name has managed to remain among the top 100 in the past few decades. The Thomas popularity index suggests that the name was within the top 40 names in the US from 2000 to 2005. As per Social Security Administration, the name ranked 33 in 2000 and 2001, followed by 36 in 2002 and 2003.

The Thomas baby name ranking dwindled slightly from 2009 onwards, where it slipped from the top 50 ranks. However, from 2016, the name managed to enter back into the US top 50 baby boy names. The rank of the name Thomas was 48 in 2016 and 49 in 2017 and 2018. The popularity of the name rose again from 2019, where it ranked 47, followed by 45 in 2020. The rise in the name’s popularity suggests increasing use of the name as per the SSA data. This classic name is the most used among households with more than one child because of its symbolic meaning.

Interest in Thomas – Worldwide

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The interest in the name Thomas has experienced a slight downward curve. The name is observed to be the most popular in January and February 2011. The name also peaked in January 2014 and September 2019 and was lowest in March 2020 and July 2021. However, the name has consistently remained above the rank of 50.

Interest in Thomas – the US

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The popularity of the name Thomas in the US suggests the significant interest in the name since it has always been above rank 55. The name was the most popular in February 2011, followed by December 2017, and the least in March 2020.

The Popularity of the name Thomas

URL: https://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/babyname.cgi

Where is The Name Most Searched?

Search trends of Thomas – Worldwide

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The search trends of the name Thomas across the globe are the highest in the US Virgin Islands, followed by the United Kingdom. Among the top five regions, Ireland, Germany and Denmark are the other countries where the name is the most popular.

Search trends of Thomas – the US

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The top five cities where the name is the most searched in the US are the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, and Tennessee. The popularity of the name in these cities suggests the increasing use of the name in the future as well.

Middle Names That go With Thomas

When selecting a middle name for your child, choosing one that blends well with the first name is essential. This helps in maintaining the elegance of your child’s name. Therefore, some of the double names with Thomas are:

Ethan Gavin
Ryan James
Kaidan Dominic
Henry Adam
Joseph Caleb
Logan Kaden
David Jasper
Bradley Jacob
Harrison Mason
Michael Sebastian

FAMOUS PEOPLE NAMED THOMAS

Famous People Named Thomas

The popularity of a name elevates when celebrities have the same name. Similarly, the popularity of this name is primarily influenced by numerous famous people. Therefore, this list includes some of the famous celebrities named Thomas:

Celebrity Name Profession/Famous For
Thomas Alva Edison American Inventor
Thomas Tesche German badminton player
Thomas Nordahl Swedish soccer player
Thomas Nagel American philosopher
Thomas Jefferson 3rd US President
Thomas Lincoln Jr. Brother of Abraham Lincoln
Thomas Ellis Gibson American actor and director
Thomas Muster Austrian tennis player
Thomas Pelham-Holles 1st Duke of Newcastle and Prime Minister of Great Britain
Thomas Müller German footballer

Similar Names & Last Names

Other names for Thomas signifies its cultural implication worldwide. The names differ in respect to nationalities, religion, and other factors as well. Some parents prefer to name their child with names that have similar baby names like Thomas. This list also includes family names for Thomas, such as:

Similar Baby Names Suitable Family Names
Tyric Charles
Boe Smith
Castor Lewis
Adriel Bennett
Didymus Cook
Chaseton Miller
Romolo Gray
Garrel Hensley
Akhi Murphy
Gerret Evans

Names That Sound Like Thomas

There are various names that rhyme with Thomas that may have similar or other meanings. These similar-sounding names can also prove to be great alternatives:

Marcas Silas
Atlas Romulus
Dallas Elias
Lucas Ilyas
Leonidas Ekas
Alias Douglas
Jonas Mathias
Nicholas Tiberius

Sibling Names Related to Thomas

It is essential to choose sibling names that go with Thomas that complement all your children’s names. Some of the most common sister and brother names for Thomas are:

Sister Names for Thomas Brother Names for Thomas
Lilly Issac
Grace Benjamin
Kiera Joshua
Tabitha Theo
Kaitlyn Matthew
Vivienne Sam
Daisy Zach
Gabrielle Daniel
Olivia Peter
Lexi Edward

Nicknames for Thomas

Nicknames are the names given by close family members or friends that are used for affectionately calling your child. You can use these nicknames in informal settings. Therefore, nicknames for Thomas are:

Tamas Tom
Thom Tommy
Thos Thomson
Thanos Tomas
Mas Tomaso
Massy Meso

 

The name Thomas has its roots in the Bible and Hebrew origin and is widely prevalent among different cultures and nationalities. It is a widely used first and last name. This name has remained in the top 50 list in the previous ten years and is expected to gain further popularity.

Sources/References

Social Security Administration: https://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/babyname.cgi
Thomas  Name Popularity in the United States: https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2011-01-01%202021-09-21&geo=US&q=Thomas
Thomas   Name Popularity Across The World: https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2011-01-01%202021-09-21&q=Thomas
Thomas   Name Interest in the United States: https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2011-01-01%202021-09-21&geo=US&q=Thomas
Thomas  Name Interest Across The World: https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2011-01-01%202021-09-21&q=Thomas

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