Thomas

Thomas Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

TOM-as

Meaning of Thomas: Thomas descends from the Aramaic Ta'oma, built on the root t-a-m meaning twin. Greek scribes translated the word into Didymos and transliterated it as Thomas, a doublet that John 11 preserves together, as detailed on etymology records.

US Rank 2024

No. 39

Births

6,576

Peak Year

1880

The apostle Thomas, named in all four Gospels, famously doubted the resurrection until he touched Jesus's wounds in John 20. Eastern tradition then sends him to India, where the Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala trace their apostolic lineage to his first-century mission and his martyrdom at Mylapore near Chennai.

Medieval Europe celebrated multiple saints named Thomas, including Thomas Aquinas the 13th-century Dominican theologian and Thomas a Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury martyred in 1170. Becket's shrine drew pilgrims from across Christendom and inspired Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, anchoring the name throughout English church and civic life.

What Does Thomas Mean? Origin & Etymology

Per US Social Security Administration records, Thomas has held a top 50 position every year since record-keeping began in 1880, an unbroken 144-year run. The name peaked at rank eight in 1880 and rank 10 across several years during the 1910s and 1940s.

As of 2024, Thomas holds rank 39 with 6,576 US births. The name ranks in the top 40 across France, Ireland, Scotland, Belgium, and the Netherlands, and it tops charts in parts of French-speaking Canada. Few classical names match this level of cross-cultural adoption across Catholic and Protestant Europe.

Variants across languages include French Thomas with silent s, Italian Tommaso, Spanish Tomas, Portuguese Tomas, German Thomas, Russian Foma, and Irish Tomas. Notably, the pet forms Tom, Tommy, and Thom give the name three distinct registers, explaining its durability across presidents, writers, and kitchen-table America.

Name day: July 3

How Popular Is Thomas?

Numerology & Symbolism of Thomas

Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.

T(2) + H(8) + O(6) + M(4) + A(1) + S(1) = 22

Destiny number

Master Builder

Sum of all letters, reduced to a single digit

Soul urge

Understanding

Sum of vowels only - reveals inner desires

Expression

Warmth

Sum of consonants - how others perceive you

Letters 6

Vowels / consonants 2 / 4

Birthstone Opal

Lucky color Gold

1 Leadership Independent, driven, original — the initiator who forges new paths.

2 Harmony Diplomatic and cooperative, thriving through partnership and balance.

3 Expression Creative and communicative, bringing joy through art and words.

4 Stability Disciplined and dependable, building lasting structures through hard work.

5 Freedom Adventurous and adaptable, drawn to change, travel, and new experiences.

6 Nurturing Caring and responsible, focused on home, family, and community.

7 Wisdom Analytical and introspective, seeking truth through study and reflection.

8 Ambition Authoritative and goal-oriented, excelling in business and material achievement.

9 Compassion Humanitarian and idealistic, driven by a desire to serve and uplift others.

11 Intuition Master number: heightened sensitivity and spiritual insight beyond the ordinary.

22 Master Builder Master number: visionary practicality that turns ambitious dreams into reality.

33 Master Teacher Master number: selfless guidance and healing offered for the good of all.

Thomas – Similar Names & Alternatives

Tadeo

courageous heart, praise

Not seeing what you want? Browse all names by origin or popularity

Frequently Asked Questions about Thomas

What does Thomas mean?

Thomas means twin, from Aramaic Toma. The Apostle Thomas was called Didymus (Greek for twin) in the Gospel of John. He doubted the resurrection until he touched Christ’s wounds.

What is the origin of Thomas?

Thomas derives from Aramaic Toma (twin). The Apostle Thomas spread it via early Christianity. Saint Thomas Aquinas and Thomas More represent its peak of Catholic intellectual prestige.

How popular is Thomas in the US?

Thomas ranks 39 for boys in the US as of 2024, per SSA data. It ranked in the US top 10 from 1880 to 1974. Thomas has remained in the top 40 continuously since SSA records began.

What are variants of Thomas?

Variants include Tom, Tommy (English nicknames), Tomas (Spanish/Irish), Tommaso (Italian), Tomasz (Polish), and Tuomas (Finnish). Tom independently ranks in the UK top 50.

Is Thomas more popular for girls or boys?

Thomas is given predominantly to boys. It ranks 39 for boys in the US in 2024. Thomas occasionally appears for girls but does not rank in the girls’ top 1000.

Boy Aramaic 2 syllables From Aramaic 'Ta'oma' meaning twin

Thomas – Name Variants & Spellings

Variant	Language
Tomas	Czech/Lithuanian/Scandinavian
Tommy	English diminutive
Tom	English short form
Thom	English variant
Tommaso	Italian
Foma	Russian
Toma	Serbian/Romanian
Tomás	Spanish/Irish

AK No. 39 AL No. 16 AR No. 41 AZ No. 75 CA No. 78 CO No. 38 CT No. 22 DC No. 25 DE No. 70 FL No. 56 GA No. 25 HI No. 47 IA No. 59 ID No. 14 IL No. 43 IN No. 33 KS No. 30 KY No. 45 LA No. 27 MA No. 15 MD No. 48 ME No. 16 MI No. 36 MN No. 25 MO No. 35 MS No. 32 MT No. 31 NC No. 30 ND No. 43 NE No. 24 NH No. 19 NJ No. 36 NM No. 72 NV No. 65 NY No. 32 OH No. 39 OK No. 30 OR No. 36 PA No. 33 RI No. 23 SC No. 10 SD No. 73 TN No. 24 TX No. 67 UT No. 21 VA No. 20 VT No. 42 WA No. 36 WI No. 37 WV No. 87 WY No. 54