Thayer Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: THAY-er //ˈθeɪər//
Origin: English; Old English
Meaning: English: 'tailor'; Old English: 'a dweller by the river'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Thayer has its roots in Old French, derived from the word "taier," which means "to plow" or "to cultivate." This term evolved from the Latin "taliare," which also relates to farming and land cultivation. The name entered the English language during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, when many Old French words and names were assimilated into English.
As a result, Thayer can be seen as a name that embodies agricultural significance, reflecting the importance of farming in medieval society. Historically, the name Thayer is associated with various notable figures and families, particularly in England and America.
In the 19th century, the name gained prominence through the Thayer family, who were influential in various fields, including education and politics. One significant milestone is the establishment of Thayer Academy in Massachusetts in 1877, named after a prominent benefactor, which further solidified the name's association with educational advancement.
The name has also appeared in literature and historical texts, contributing to its recognition over the centuries. Culturally, Thayer carries connotations of diligence and hard work, reflective of its agricultural origins.
The name has been embraced in various contexts, often symbolizing a connection to the land and the virtues of perseverance. While diminutive forms or variations of Thayer are less common, the name's historical significance and its ties to cultivation and labor have allowed it to endure through generations.
Overall, Thayer represents a blend of linguistic heritage and cultural resonance, rooted in the agrarian traditions of early English society.
Famous people named Thayer
In this section, you will find notable people named Thayer. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Thayer who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Thayer who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Thayer David was an actor best known for Dark Shadows, The Devil's Brigade, and The Last of the Secret Agents?.
Thayer Munford is a football player best known for playing with the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Las Vegas Raiders.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Thayer, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Thayer. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Thayer was first seen in the United States in 1912.
Thayer has ranked as high as #5443 nationally, which occurred in 2014, and has been most popular in Pennsylvania, Washington, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Oklahoma.
In the past 5 years the name Thayer has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Thayer is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Thayer was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Thayer.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 2024 | 23 | 23 | 0 |
| 2023 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 2022 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 2021 | 27 | 27 | 0 |
| 2020 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 2019 | 49 | 49 | 0 |
| 2018 | 49 | 42 | 7 |
| 2017 | 52 | 46 | 6 |
| 2016 | 45 | 45 | 0 |
| 2015 | 52 | 52 | 0 |
| 2014 | 52 | 52 | 0 |
| 2013 | 44 | 44 | 0 |
| 2012 | 36 | 36 | 0 |
| 2011 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 2010 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 2009 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 2008 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 2007 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 2006 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 2005 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 2004 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2003 | 18 | 11 | 7 |
| 2002 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 2001 | 18 | 12 | 6 |
| 2000 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1999 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1998 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1997 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1996 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1995 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1994 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1993 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1992 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1991 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1990 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 1989 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1988 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1987 | 14 | 9 | 5 |
| 1986 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 1985 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1984 | 19 | 13 | 6 |
| 1983 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1982 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1981 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1980 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1979 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1978 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1977 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1976 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 1975 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1974 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1973 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1972 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1971 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1970 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1969 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1968 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1967 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1966 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1965 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1964 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1963 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1962 | 15 | 9 | 6 |
| 1961 | 12 | 7 | 5 |
| 1958 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1957 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1956 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1954 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1953 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1951 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1950 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1949 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1948 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1947 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1946 | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| 1944 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1943 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1942 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1941 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1940 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1939 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1938 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1936 | 11 | 6 | 5 |
| 1935 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1934 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1933 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1931 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1930 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1929 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1927 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1926 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1925 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1924 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1923 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1922 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1921 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1920 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1919 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1918 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1917 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1916 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1915 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1914 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1913 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1912 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
Top States for Thayer (2019)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| KY | 5 |