Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Thor
BoyOld Norse· “thunder”
- Meaning
- thunder
- Origin
- Old Norse
- Pronunciation
- THOR
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #2,875
- US babies 2025
- 44
- Best rank
- #883 (1968)
- Peak year
- 2015
Meaning and origin of Thor
Thor is an Old Norse name that means “thunder”.
Thor is the Norse god of thunder, known for his mighty hammer Mjölnir and his role as a protector of gods and humans. The name comes from Old Norse Þórr, meaning thunder. Thor has been used as a given name in Scandinavia for centuries, often in compounds like Thorsten and Thorvald. In recent years, Marvel's films and comics have made the name even more familiar worldwide. Thor is short, strong and bold, a name with legendary power and a clear, dramatic meaning.
Popularity over time
Thor first appears in US Social Security records in 1904. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 6 different years, starting in 1961. Its best national rank was #883 in 1968, and the most babies received it in 2015, when 118 were named Thor. In 2025, 44 babies were named Thor, and it ranked #2,875 nationally. That is 63% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #2,120 in 1920, #2,194 in 1950, #1,201 in 1980, #2,045 in 2000, #1,609 in 2010, and #2,875 in 2025. Of the 4,857 US boys named Thor since records began, 21% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 699 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Chayce, Calder, Brently, Jeremih, and Constantine.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Thor ranked highest in California.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| California | #1970 | 8 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Thor is usually pronounced THOR, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with T and ends in “-or”.
Middle names for Thor
A few middle names that flow with Thor: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Thor
Similar names
Loki Boy
LOH-kee
“uncertain; Norse trickster god” · Old Norse
#1,858
Finn Boy
FIN
“fair, white” · Irish
#206
Odin Boy
OH-duhn
“fury, inspiration” · Old Norse
#502
Bjorn Boy
BYAWRN
“bear” · Old Norse
#829
Slade Boy
SLAYD
“valley” · English
#1,055
Fox Boy
FAHKS
“fox” · English
#1,411
Lux Unisex
LUKS
“light” · Latin
#2,918
Rafe Boy
RAYF
“short form of Ralph, counsel wolf” · English
#1,165
Oden Boy
OH-duhn
“Swedish form of Odin, chief Norse god” · Old Norse
#2,033
Wolf Boy
WOOLF
“wolf” · German
#1,902
Blue Unisex
BLOO
“the color blue” · English
#2,648
Sven Boy
SVEHN
“young man, boy” · Old Norse
#3,645
Lists that include Thor
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Thor mean?
Thor is an Old Norse name that means “thunder”.
What is the origin of the name Thor?
Thor has Old Norse roots. Thor is the Norse god of thunder, known for his mighty hammer Mjölnir and his role as a protector of gods and humans.
Is Thor a popular name?
Not especially. Thor ranked #2,875 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Thor a boy or girl name?
Thor is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Thor?
Thor is usually pronounced THOR. 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