Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Thomas
BoyAramaic, Greek· “twin”
- Meaning
- twin
- Origin
- Aramaic, Greek
- Pronunciation
- TAH-muhs
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #34
- US babies 2025
- 6,917
- Best rank
- #8 (1880)
- Peak year
- 1952
Meaning and origin of Thomas
Thomas is an Aramaic and Greek name that means “twin”.
Thomas comes from the Aramaic te'oma, "twin". In the New Testament, Thomas is the apostle who doubts the resurrection until he sees the wounds of Jesus, which gave English the phrase "doubting Thomas". Saint Thomas Becket, the archbishop of Canterbury murdered in his cathedral in 1170, made the name enormously popular in medieval England, and Thomas Aquinas became one of the great medieval theologians. Americans know it through Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Edison. The name feels classic and dependable. Tom and Tommy are nicknames, and Tomás, Tomasz and Tommaso are forms used elsewhere.
Famous parents who chose Thomas: Amanda Seyfried and Thomas Sadoski (2020). More celebrity baby names
Popularity over time
Thomas has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #8 in 1880, and the most babies received it in 1952, when 48,647 were named Thomas. In 2025, 6,917 babies were named Thomas, and it ranked #34 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #11 in 1920, #8 in 1950, #25 in 1980, #33 in 2000, #62 in 2010, and #34 in 2025. Of the 2,358,576 US boys named Thomas since records began, 19% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1940s come next, with 350,775 babies. Since 2010, 109,809 more have been named Thomas.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Gary, Dennis, and Stephen.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Thomas ranked highest in Mississippi, Utah, and Virginia.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | #10 | 82 |
| Utah | #12 | 155 |
| Virginia | #14 | 231 |
| Minnesota | #14 | 166 |
| Massachusetts | #16 | 209 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Thomas is usually pronounced TAH-muhs, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with T and ends in “-as”.
Middle names for Thomas
A few middle names that flow with Thomas: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Thomas
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Lists that include Thomas
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Thomas mean?
Thomas is an Aramaic and Greek name that means “twin”.
What is the origin of the name Thomas?
Thomas has Aramaic and Greek roots. Thomas comes from the Aramaic te'oma, "twin".
Is Thomas a popular name?
Yes. Thomas ranked #34 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Thomas a boy or girl name?
Thomas is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Thomas?
Thomas is usually pronounced TAH-muhs. 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