Thor Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: Thor //θɔːr//
Origin: Norse; Scandinavian
Meaning: Norse: thunder; Scandinavian: strong
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Thor originates from Old Norse "Þórr," which is derived from the Proto-Germanic root "*Þunraz," meaning "thunder." This etymology reflects the name's association with the Norse god of thunder, who was a prominent figure in Norse mythology. The name made its way into English through the influence of Old Norse during the Viking Age, particularly as Norse settlers and their culture spread across parts of the British Isles from the 8th to the 11th centuries.
The transition into English was facilitated by the integration of Norse mythology into local folklore and language, especially in regions heavily influenced by Viking activity. Historically, Thor is best known as a major deity in Norse mythology, often depicted wielding his hammer, Mjölnir, and associated with protection, strength, and the natural elements.
The god Thor appears in various historical texts, including the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda, both of which were composed in the 13th century but draw on much older oral traditions. These texts played a crucial role in preserving Norse mythology and the significance of Thor within it.
Additionally, the name has been linked to various historical figures, including Scandinavian kings and warriors, who adopted the name as a symbol of strength and valor. Culturally, Thor has remained a powerful symbol in various traditions, often representing the archetype of the warrior and protector.
His enduring legacy is evident in the continued reverence for his name in modern contexts, including literature and popular culture. The name has also inspired various diminutive forms and related names across different cultures, such as "Thorin" or "Thorvald," which carry similar connotations of strength and nobility.
Overall, the name Thor encapsulates a rich tapestry of linguistic, historical, and cultural significance that has persisted through the centuries.
Famous people named Thor
In this section, you will find notable people named Thor. 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 Thor who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Thor 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.
Thor Heyerdahl is an explorer and anthropologist best known for the Kon-Tiki expedition, Ra expeditions, and his theories on ancient sea travel.
Thor Bjornsson is an actor and professional strongman best known for his role as The Mountain in Game of Thrones, and winning the World's Strongest Man competition.
Fictional characters named Thor
The following list of fictional characters named Thor 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.
Thor is a fictional character from the Marvel Comics universe. He is the Norse god of thunder and a prominent member of the superhero team, the Avengers.
Thor is a fictional character from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He is a powerful Asgardian warrior and the son of Odin, often battling to protect both Earth and Asgard.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Thor, 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 Thor. 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 Thor was first seen in the United States in 1904.
Thor has ranked as high as #1276 nationally, which occurred in 2015, and has been most popular in California, Minnesota, Washington, New York, and Florida.
In the past 5 years the name Thor has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Thor 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 Thor was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Thor (2023)
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 | 7 | |
| WA | 7 | |
| FL | 6 | |
| MI | 6 |
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 Thor.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 46 |
| 2023 | 71 |
| 2022 | 80 |
| 2021 | 87 |
| 2020 | 86 |
| 2019 | 95 |
| 2018 | 106 |
| 2017 | 99 |
| 2016 | 90 |
| 2015 | 118 |
| 2014 | 115 |
| 2013 | 94 |
| 2012 | 104 |
| 2011 | 107 |
| 2010 | 98 |
| 2009 | 77 |
| 2008 | 103 |
| 2007 | 73 |
| 2006 | 74 |
| 2005 | 75 |
| 2004 | 57 |
| 2003 | 71 |
| 2002 | 57 |
| 2001 | 62 |
| 2000 | 50 |
| 1999 | 49 |
| 1998 | 45 |
| 1997 | 50 |
| 1996 | 48 |
| 1995 | 45 |
| 1994 | 51 |
| 1993 | 45 |
| 1992 | 61 |
| 1991 | 48 |
| 1990 | 56 |
| 1989 | 53 |
| 1988 | 48 |
| 1987 | 55 |
| 1986 | 49 |
| 1985 | 38 |
| 1984 | 45 |
| 1983 | 41 |
| 1982 | 41 |
| 1981 | 40 |
| 1980 | 59 |
| 1979 | 52 |
| 1978 | 46 |
| 1977 | 37 |
| 1976 | 37 |
| 1975 | 46 |
| 1974 | 51 |
| 1973 | 59 |
| 1972 | 64 |
| 1971 | 80 |
| 1970 | 65 |
| 1969 | 65 |
| 1968 | 67 |
| 1967 | 46 |
| 1966 | 67 |
| 1965 | 59 |
| 1964 | 56 |
| 1963 | 50 |
| 1962 | 52 |
| 1961 | 64 |
| 1960 | 41 |
| 1959 | 28 |
| 1958 | 23 |
| 1957 | 20 |
| 1956 | 27 |
| 1955 | 32 |
| 1954 | 14 |
| 1953 | 17 |
| 1952 | 21 |
| 1951 | 13 |
| 1950 | 13 |
| 1949 | 18 |
| 1948 | 14 |
| 1947 | 19 |
| 1946 | 11 |
| 1945 | 11 |
| 1944 | 15 |
| 1943 | 14 |
| 1942 | 14 |
| 1941 | 15 |
| 1940 | 6 |
| 1939 | 8 |
| 1938 | 12 |
| 1937 | 9 |
| 1936 | 6 |
| 1935 | 10 |
| 1934 | 11 |
| 1933 | 5 |
| 1932 | 12 |
| 1931 | 10 |
| 1930 | 8 |
| 1929 | 13 |
| 1928 | 15 |
| 1927 | 5 |
| 1926 | 9 |
| 1925 | 16 |
| 1924 | 13 |
| 1923 | 8 |
| 1922 | 11 |
| 1921 | 11 |
| 1920 | 16 |
| 1919 | 9 |
| 1918 | 12 |
| 1917 | 15 |
| 1916 | 10 |
| 1915 | 13 |
| 1914 | 11 |
| 1913 | 9 |
| 1912 | 7 |
| 1904 | 5 |