Thurston Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: THUR-stən //ˈθɜːrstən//
Origin: Old English; Scandinavian
Meaning: Old English: thorn bush; Scandinavian: Thor's stone
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Thurston has its roots in Old Norse, derived from the personal name Þórsteinn, which combines the elements 'Þór' (Thor), the Norse god of thunder, and 'steinn' meaning 'stone'. This name evolved through various linguistic stages, transitioning from Old Norse to Middle English as 'Thurstan' or 'Thurston', before being adopted into modern English.
The name reflects a common practice in Norse culture of naming children after deities, symbolizing strength and resilience, which were highly valued traits in Viking society. Historically, the name Thurston appears in England during the medieval period, with notable figures such as Thurstan, Archbishop of York, who served from 1114 to 1140.
His prominence in ecclesiastical history contributed to the name's recognition and usage in England. Additionally, the name is mentioned in various historical documents, including the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is associated with landholdings in Yorkshire, indicating its geographical and social significance during that era.
The name has also been borne by various English nobles and landowners throughout the centuries, further embedding it in the historical narrative of England. Culturally, the name Thurston has been associated with qualities of strength and steadfastness, reflecting its etymological roots linked to Thor.
The name has also been used in literature and folklore, often embodying characters that represent bravery and honor. While diminutive forms such as 'Thur' may exist, the name Thurston itself has maintained a distinct identity through its historical and cultural associations, contributing to its endurance in the English-speaking world.
Famous people named Thurston
In this section, you will find notable people named Thurston. 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 Thurston who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Thurston 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.
Thurston Moore is a musician best known for being a founding member of Sonic Youth, as well as his solo work and collaborations.
Thurston Harris is a singer best known for his hit single Little Bitty Pretty One.
Fictional characters named Thurston
The following list of fictional characters named Thurston 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.
Thurston Howell III is a fictional character from the TV show Gilligan's Island. He is a wealthy, snobbish millionaire who often clashes with the other castaways on the island.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Thurston, 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 Thurston. 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 Thurston was first seen in the United States in 1884.
Thurston has ranked as high as #800 nationally, which occurred in 1918, and has been most popular in North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, New York, and Virginia.
In the past 5 years the name Thurston has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Thurston 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 Thurston was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Thurston (2013)
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 | 9 |
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 Thurston.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2021 | 13 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2016 | 16 |
| 2015 | 19 |
| 2014 | 15 |
| 2013 | 24 |
| 2012 | 16 |
| 2011 | 28 |
| 2010 | 24 |
| 2009 | 18 |
| 2008 | 23 |
| 2007 | 21 |
| 2006 | 21 |
| 2005 | 20 |
| 2004 | 18 |
| 2003 | 15 |
| 2002 | 11 |
| 2001 | 13 |
| 2000 | 13 |
| 1999 | 15 |
| 1998 | 10 |
| 1997 | 17 |
| 1996 | 15 |
| 1995 | 16 |
| 1994 | 14 |
| 1993 | 15 |
| 1992 | 23 |
| 1991 | 29 |
| 1990 | 10 |
| 1989 | 24 |
| 1988 | 28 |
| 1987 | 22 |
| 1986 | 21 |
| 1985 | 21 |
| 1984 | 25 |
| 1983 | 24 |
| 1982 | 21 |
| 1981 | 27 |
| 1980 | 30 |
| 1979 | 29 |
| 1978 | 24 |
| 1977 | 17 |
| 1976 | 24 |
| 1975 | 19 |
| 1974 | 33 |
| 1973 | 32 |
| 1972 | 24 |
| 1971 | 41 |
| 1970 | 32 |
| 1969 | 27 |
| 1968 | 32 |
| 1967 | 25 |
| 1966 | 21 |
| 1965 | 30 |
| 1964 | 31 |
| 1963 | 30 |
| 1962 | 34 |
| 1961 | 32 |
| 1960 | 34 |
| 1959 | 33 |
| 1958 | 47 |
| 1957 | 39 |
| 1956 | 38 |
| 1955 | 29 |
| 1954 | 25 |
| 1953 | 27 |
| 1952 | 31 |
| 1951 | 41 |
| 1950 | 28 |
| 1949 | 44 |
| 1948 | 34 |
| 1947 | 37 |
| 1946 | 39 |
| 1945 | 50 |
| 1944 | 42 |
| 1943 | 29 |
| 1942 | 29 |
| 1941 | 34 |
| 1940 | 33 |
| 1939 | 32 |
| 1938 | 30 |
| 1937 | 39 |
| 1936 | 27 |
| 1935 | 34 |
| 1934 | 38 |
| 1933 | 38 |
| 1932 | 31 |
| 1931 | 44 |
| 1930 | 45 |
| 1929 | 38 |
| 1928 | 52 |
| 1927 | 39 |
| 1926 | 51 |
| 1925 | 45 |
| 1924 | 67 |
| 1923 | 56 |
| 1922 | 55 |
| 1921 | 72 |
| 1920 | 67 |
| 1919 | 55 |
| 1918 | 73 |
| 1917 | 54 |
| 1916 | 42 |
| 1915 | 64 |
| 1914 | 39 |
| 1913 | 45 |
| 1912 | 26 |
| 1911 | 14 |
| 1910 | 16 |
| 1909 | 10 |
| 1908 | 7 |
| 1907 | 5 |
| 1905 | 9 |
| 1904 | 8 |
| 1903 | 7 |
| 1902 | 8 |
| 1900 | 11 |
| 1898 | 9 |
| 1895 | 5 |
| 1884 | 7 |