The nameTom
Tom is the short form of Thomas, friendly and timeless.
- Boy's name
- Aramaic
- Feast day
Meaning
Tom comes from Thomas, Aramaic for "twin".
Origin
Aramaic, through Greek and English.
History
Tom has been used as a full name since the Middle Ages. In England and Wales it reached 83rd place in 2000. In the United States it was common in the 19th century.
Tom in other languages
Tom is the English short form of Thomas, given as a name in its own right in France, the Netherlands and the Nordic countries. Other languages use Tomás, Tommaso or Tomasz.
Nicknames for Tom
The most common nicknames for Tom: Tommy.
Did you know?
- Tom Hanks won the Oscar for Best Actor two years running, for Philadelphia and for Forrest Gump.
- Tom Brady won the Super Bowl seven times, a record.
- The diver Tom Daley won Olympic gold in the synchronised 10 metre event at the Tokyo Games.
Famous people named Tom
- Tom Hanks, actor
- Tom Cruise, actor
- Tom Brady, American football player
- Tom Daley, diver
Popularity of the name Tom
Tom in the United States
Tom was most popular in the United States in the 1940s, with 29,983 births over the decade, 21% of all recorded babies named Tom. Its rise began around 1912, and it peaked in 1959. Half of all babies named Tom in the United States were born before 1947, so it is mostly a grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 56 births a year on average, against 76 in the five years before.
Tom in the United Kingdom
Tom was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 5,968 births over the decade, 53% of all recorded babies named Tom. Half of all babies named Tom in the United Kingdom were born before 2005, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 97 births a year on average, against 185 in the five years before.
Tom in Ireland
Tom in France
Tom in Belgium
Tom in Switzerland
Tom in Austria
Tom in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Tom
Names from the same generation as Tom, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Tom? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Tom with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Tom side by side with the name of your choice.
Tom in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Tom mean?
Tom comes from Thomas, Aramaic for "twin".
What is the origin of the name Tom?
Aramaic, through Greek and English.
Is Tom a girl's or a boy's name?
Tom is a boy's name.
How popular is the name Tom?
In 2024, Tom was the 2784th most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 46 births.
What are the variants of the name Tom?
Variants and related names of Tom include Thomas.
What are good sibling names for Tom?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Marta, Lili, Sonja and Bronwyn for a sister, Ervin, Kamil, Erwin and Jacques for a brother.
What are common nicknames for Tom?
The most common nicknames for Tom are Tommy.
Who are famous people named Tom?
Tom Hanks, actor; Tom Cruise, actor; Tom Brady, American football player; Tom Daley, diver.