Thom Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: Tom /tɒm/
Origin: Hebrew; English
Meaning: Hebrew: twin; English: short form of Thomas
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Thom is derived from the Aramaic name "T'oma," which means "twin." This name was later adopted into Greek as "Thomas" and subsequently into Latin as "Thomas." The transition into Old French occurred during the medieval period, where it was often rendered as "Thom" or "Tom," before entering the English language. The name has maintained its association with the original meaning of twin throughout its linguistic journey, reflecting its roots in Semitic languages.
Historically, the name Thom is most notably associated with Saint Thomas the Apostle, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ, who is often referred to as "Doubting Thomas" due to his initial skepticism regarding the resurrection of Christ. His story is recounted in the New Testament, particularly in the Gospel of John, which dates back to the first century CE.
The name gained further prominence through various translations of the Bible, including the King James Version in the early 17th century, which helped solidify its place in Christian tradition. Culturally, the name Thom has been embraced in various forms across different societies, often symbolizing faith, doubt, and the quest for truth.
The diminutive form "Tom" has also emerged as a common variant, frequently used in literature and folklore, such as in the character of Tom Sawyer from Mark Twain's novel published in the late 19th century. The enduring nature of the name Thom reflects its deep roots in religious and cultural narratives, making it a significant name in both historical and literary contexts.
Famous people named Thom
In this section, you will find notable people named Thom. 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 Thom who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Thom 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.
Thom Yorke is a musician best known for being the lead vocalist of Radiohead, as well as for his solo work and the band Atoms for Peace.
Thom Brennaman is a sportscaster best known for his work with the Cincinnati Reds and Fox Sports.
Thom Filicia is an interior designer best known for his role on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and his design firm, Thom Filicia Inc.
Thom Hartmann is a radio host and author best known for his progressive talk radio show and books like The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight.
Thom Mayne is an architect best known for his innovative designs and founding the architecture firm Morphosis.
Fictional characters named Thom
The following list of fictional characters named Thom is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Thom Merrilin is a fictional character from the book series The Wheel of Time. He is a gleeman who travels with the main characters, providing entertainment and wisdom throughout their journey.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Thom, 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 Thom. 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 Thom was first seen in the United States in 1917.
Thom has ranked as high as #1110 nationally, which occurred in 1961, and has been most popular in California, New York, Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan.
In the past 5 years the name Thom has been trending about the same compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Thom 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 Thom was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Thom (1962)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 5 |
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 Thom.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 1999 | 5 |
| 1994 | 8 |
| 1993 | 8 |
| 1990 | 7 |
| 1989 | 5 |
| 1988 | 9 |
| 1987 | 5 |
| 1986 | 9 |
| 1985 | 9 |
| 1984 | 10 |
| 1983 | 9 |
| 1982 | 9 |
| 1981 | 15 |
| 1980 | 13 |
| 1978 | 12 |
| 1977 | 7 |
| 1976 | 7 |
| 1975 | 6 |
| 1974 | 17 |
| 1973 | 12 |
| 1972 | 13 |
| 1971 | 12 |
| 1970 | 13 |
| 1969 | 17 |
| 1968 | 24 |
| 1967 | 16 |
| 1966 | 16 |
| 1965 | 14 |
| 1964 | 15 |
| 1963 | 19 |
| 1962 | 23 |
| 1961 | 33 |
| 1960 | 18 |
| 1959 | 23 |
| 1958 | 29 |
| 1957 | 11 |
| 1956 | 16 |
| 1955 | 20 |
| 1954 | 14 |
| 1953 | 24 |
| 1952 | 15 |
| 1951 | 17 |
| 1950 | 18 |
| 1949 | 16 |
| 1948 | 28 |
| 1947 | 28 |
| 1946 | 25 |
| 1945 | 16 |
| 1944 | 15 |
| 1943 | 16 |
| 1942 | 20 |
| 1941 | 14 |
| 1938 | 9 |
| 1937 | 8 |
| 1936 | 6 |
| 1935 | 9 |
| 1925 | 6 |
| 1917 | 7 |