Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Thais
GirlGreek· “Greek name, meaning uncertain”
- Meaning
- Greek name, meaning uncertain (origin disputed)
- Origin
- Greek
- Pronunciation
- tah-EES
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #5,087
- US babies 2025
- 26
- Best rank
- #1,478 (1916)
- Peak year
- 2001
Meaning and origin of Thais
Thais is often said to mean “Greek name, meaning uncertain”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to Greek roots.
Thais is a Greek name whose meaning is uncertain. The best-known ancient bearer was Thaïs, an Athenian woman who accompanied Alexander the Great on his campaigns. Christian tradition also honors Saint Thaïs, a penitent of Egypt, whose story inspired Anatole France's novel Thaïs and Jules Massenet's opera, known for its Méditation for violin. It is said tah-EES. In Brazil, Thaís is a popular name, written with an accent. The dieresis in Thaïs shows that the a and i are said separately.
Popularity over time
Thais first appears in US Social Security records in 1909. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,478 in 1916, and the most babies received it in 2001, when 84 were named Thais. In 2025, 26 babies were named Thais, and it ranked #5,087 nationally. That is 26% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #1,506 in 1920, #3,218 in 1950, #5,227 in 1980, #2,454 in 2000, #5,961 in 2010, and #5,087 in 2025. Of the 2,225 US girls named Thais since records began, 19% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 230 babies. Since 2010, 404 more have been named Thais.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Zharia, Sayra, Marykate, Leslye, and Kaycie.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Thais is usually pronounced tah-EES, with one syllable. It has five letters, starts with T and ends in “-is”.
Middle names for Thais
A few middle names that flow with Thais: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Thais
Similar names
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Lists that include Thais
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Thais mean?
Thais is often said to mean “Greek name, meaning uncertain”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to Greek roots.
What is the origin of the name Thais?
Thais has Greek roots. Thais is a Greek name whose meaning is uncertain.
Is Thais a popular name?
Not especially. Thais ranked #5,087 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Thais a boy or girl name?
Thais is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Thais?
Thais is usually pronounced tah-EES. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings