Baby Names Boy Names Thomas Name Meaning Learn more about the meaning, origin, and popularity of the name Thomas. By Wendy Wisner Published on June 24, 2024 Fact checked by Sarah Scott In This Article View All In This Article How Popular Is the Name Thomas? Name Variations Similar Names Common Nicknames for Thomas Suggested Sibling Names Famous People Named Thomas Close If you are looking for a strong, traditional name that never goes out of style, you might want to consider the name Thomas. Thomas comes from the Hebrew word ta’om meaning “twin.” The English spelling comes from the Latin translation of the Greek, as recorded in the New Testament of the Bible, where St. Thomas was one of the 12 apostles of Jesus. St. Thomas likely made Thomas a popular name worldwide over many centuries. But Thomas also has particular American significance because it is a name shared with some of the great American minds, including Founding Father Thomas Jefferson and inventor Thomas Edison. Origin: The Hebrew word תָּאוֹם (ta’om) led to the Aramaic name Taoma. This name was rendered in New Testament Greek as Θωμάς (Thomas).Gender: Thomas is traditionally the masculine form of the name. Thomasine, Thomasina, and Tamsin have been used as feminine variations.Pronunciation: TAH-mis Editor's Note Although baby names are often separated by gender, Parents believes that sex need not play any role in your name selection process. It’s important to select the name that you feel is best suited for your new baby. How Popular Is the Name Thomas? Thomas is a perennial favorite in the US, ranking among the top 50 boy names in America throughout the 20th century. It was most popular between 1931 and 1966, remaining a top 10 boy name for those 35 years. Thomas reached its peak in the 1940s and early 1950s, consistently ranking 8th in the US during that period. Of the top names for boys in the last 100 years, Thomas ranks at No. 9. The name has dipped in popularity in recent decades, however, reaching a low point of No. 63 from 2011 to 2012. It has since rebounded somewhat and has been in the top 50 names for boys since 2015. As of 2022, the Social Security Administration ranked Thomas the 45th most popular name for boys in America. Name Variations As a biblical name, Thomas has an equivalent in virtually every known language. These include: Foma (Russian) Tamás (Hungarian) Tamati (Maori) Tavish (Scottish) Toma (Serbian) Tomás (Spanish) Tomáš (Czech) Tomaso (Italian) Tomasz (Polish) Tomi (Hungarian) Tomos (Welsh) Toomas (Estonian) Similar Names Though Tom is usually a short form of Thomas, it can also be a name in its own right. Thompson, usually a surname, has occasionally been seen as a first name as well. Other boy names starting with "T" include: TerrenceTheoTimothyToddTrentTrevorTreyTyson Other boy names from the New Testament: AndrewJamesJohnLukeMatthewPaulPhilipStephen Common Nicknames for Thomas Some languages form nicknames for Thomas based on its ending rather than its first syllable, such as the Dutch nickname Maas and the Italian nickname Maso. Other nicknames for Thomas can include: ThomTimTimmyTomTommy Suggested Sibling Names Some sibling names for Thomas might be: BenjaminCarolynCharlesDanielEmilyJoshuaKristenLaura Famous People Named Thomas There are many notable people with the name Thomas and Tom. Famous Thomases Thomas, from the Bible, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus. He is best known for the post-resurrection moment where he asks for proof that Jesus has really returned from the dead. This scene is the origin of the phrase “Doubting Thomas.”Thomas Aquinas, Catholic priest and theologianThomas Dewey, American politician best known for nearly defeating President Truman in the 1948 election Thomas Alva Edison, American inventor known for over 1,000 patents including an early electric light bulbThomas Stearns Eliot, American poet known as T.S. Eliot, considered one of the major poets of the 20th centuryThomas “Stonewall” Jackson, Confederate general during the American Civil WarThomas Jefferson, American statesman who was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence and the third president of the United StatesThomas Hobbes, English philosopher best known for his book LeviathanSir Thomas More, English philosopher and statesman, known for his opposition to the Protestant Reformation and his 1516 book UtopiaThomas Paine, English-born American philosopher, political theorist, and revolutionary, known as the author of Common SenseThomas Carlyle, Scottish historian whose account of the French Revolution inspired Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two CitiesThomas Lanier Williams, American playwright known as Tennessee Williams, considered one of the great dramatists of the 20th centuryThomas Wolsey, English archbishop and Lord Chancellor of England under King Henry VIII Famous Toms Tom Brady, American football player widely considered as the greatest quarterback of all timeTom Brokaw, American television journalist known for his long tenure as the host of NBC Nightly NewsTom Clancy, American novelist known for his best-sellers, including The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games, and the Jack Ryan series.Tom Cruise, American actor known for starring roles in highly successful films including Risky Business, Top Gun, and Born on the Fourth of JulyTom Ford, American luxury fashion designerTom Hanks, Academy Award-winning American actor known for starring roles in dozens of films including Big, Sleepless in Seattle, Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, and the Toy Story film seriesTom Hardy, English actor and producer known for his roles in Mad Max: Fury Road and Peaky BlindersTom Hiddleston, English actor best known for playing Loki in Thor, The Avengers, and related Marvel filmsTom Holland, English actor known for playing Spider-Man in the Marvel film seriesTom Jones, Welsh singer known for such hits as It’s Not Unusual and What’s New, Pussycat?Tom Lehrer, American singer-songwriter and satirist, best known for writing and performing humorous songs in the 1950s and ‘60sTom Petty, American singer-songwriter and musician who was the lead vocalist and guitarist for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Tom Selleck, American actor who gained fame playing the title role in the TV series Magnum, P.I.Tom Stoppard, Czech-born British playwright whose screenplay for Shakespeare in Love won an Academy AwardTom Waits, American singer-songwriter, musician, and actorTom Wolfe Jr., American author and journalist known for such best-selling books as The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test and Bonfire of the Vanities More Baby Names Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options: Top 1,000 Baby Boy Names 275 Popular Baby Names for Twins 300 Popular Baby Names by Syllable Count Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Parents uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Popularity of a Baby Name: Thomas. Social Security Administration. 2023. Top Names Over the Last 100 Years. Social Security Administration. 2023.