Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Thora
GirlOld Norse· “feminine of Thor, 'thunder'”
- Meaning
- feminine of Thor, 'thunder'
- Origin
- Old Norse
- Pronunciation
- THAW-ruh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #6,093
- US babies 2025
- 20
- Best rank
- #626 (1894)
- Peak year
- 1916
Meaning and origin of Thora
Thora is an Old Norse name that means “feminine of Thor, 'thunder'”.
Thora is the feminine form of Thor, the Norse god of thunder, from Old Norse Þórr, thunder. It developed from names like Þórunn and Þóra in medieval Scandinavia and is still used in Norway, Iceland and Denmark. In English it is said THAW-ruh. The actress Thora Birch is a modern bearer. Tora is a related spelling, and Thor and Thorvald are related masculine names. In Icelandic the name is written Þóra, with the letter thorn at the start.
Popularity over time
Thora first appears in US Social Security records in 1883. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 34 different years, starting in 1883. Its best national rank was #626 in 1894, and the most babies received it in 1916, when 72 were named Thora. In 2025, 20 babies were named Thora, and it ranked #6,093 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #988 in 1920, #3,645 in 1950, #13,045 in 2000, #11,187 in 2010, and #6,093 in 2025. Of the 2,424 US girls named Thora since records began, 21% were born in the 1910s, its biggest decade. The 1920s come next, with 434 babies. Since 2010, 443 more have been named Thora.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Hermina, Euna, Queenie, Margaretta, and Stasia.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Thora is usually pronounced THAW-ruh, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with T and ends in “-ra”.
Middle names for Thora
A few middle names that flow with Thora: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Thora
Similar names
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Lists that include Thora
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Thora mean?
Thora is an Old Norse name that means “feminine of Thor, 'thunder'”.
What is the origin of the name Thora?
Thora has Old Norse roots. Thora is the feminine form of Thor, the Norse god of thunder, from Old Norse Þórr, thunder.
Is Thora a popular name?
Not especially. Thora ranked #6,093 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Thora a boy or girl name?
Thora is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Thora?
Thora is usually pronounced THAW-ruh. 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