The nameThomas
Thomas is a boy's name of Aramaic origin meaning "twin". The name of an apostle and of Thomas Becket, it is one of the most enduring English names.
- Boy's name
- Aramaic
- Feast day
Meaning
Thomas comes from the Aramaic te'oma, "twin". The Gospel of John also calls him Didymus, the Greek word for twin.
Origin
Aramaic, through Greek and Latin. Thomas is the apostle who doubted the resurrection until he saw Jesus.
History
Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury murdered in 1170, made the name hugely popular in medieval England. Thomas More, Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Edison kept it famous. It was second in England and Wales in the late 1990s. Tom and Tommy are its usual short forms.
Thomas in other languages
The name is spelled almost the same everywhere: Thomas in English, French, German and Dutch, Tomás in Spanish and Irish, Tommaso in Italian, Tomasz in Polish, Tomáš in Czech, Tamás in Hungarian and Foma in Russian.
Nicknames for Thomas
The most common nicknames for Thomas: Tom, Tommy and Thom.
Did you know?
- The phrase "doubting Thomas" comes from the apostle who would not believe in the Resurrection until he had touched Christ's wounds.
- Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
- Thomas Edison was granted more than a thousand patents in the United States.
Famous people named Thomas
- Saint Thomas the Apostle
- Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury
- Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States
- Thomas Edison, inventor
Popularity of the name Thomas
Thomas in the United States
Thomas was most popular in the United States in the 1950s, with 455,339 births over the decade, 19% of all recorded babies named Thomas. Its rise began around 1912, and it peaked in 1952. Half of all babies named Thomas in the United States were born before 1956, although it is popular again today. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 6,573 births a year.
Thomas in the United Kingdom
Thomas was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 75,124 births over the decade, 46% of all recorded babies named Thomas. Half of all babies named Thomas in the United Kingdom were born before 2006, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 2,103 births a year on average, against 3,557 in the five years before.
Thomas in Ireland
Thomas in France
Thomas in Belgium
Thomas in Switzerland
Thomas in Austria
Thomas in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Thomas
Names from the same generation as Thomas, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Thomas? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Thomas with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Thomas side by side with the name of your choice.
Thomas in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Thomas mean?
Thomas comes from the Aramaic te'oma, "twin". The Gospel of John also calls him Didymus, the Greek word for twin.
What is the origin of the name Thomas?
Aramaic, through Greek and Latin. Thomas is the apostle who doubted the resurrection until he saw Jesus.
Is Thomas a girl's or a boy's name?
Thomas is a boy's name.
How popular is the name Thomas?
In 2024, Thomas was the 39th most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 6,576 births.
What are the variants of the name Thomas?
Variants and related names of Thomas include Tom and Tommy.
What are good sibling names for Thomas?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Elizabeth, Grace, Victoria and Madeline for a sister, John, Cameron, Dylan and Samuel for a brother.
What are common nicknames for Thomas?
The most common nicknames for Thomas are Tom, Tommy and Thom.
Who are famous people named Thomas?
Saint Thomas the Apostle; Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury; Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States; Thomas Edison, inventor.