Declining since 1985, #8,910 for boys today.
Popularity of Thad since 1880
Babies named Thad per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 102 |
| 1890s | 90 |
| 1900s | 126 |
| 1910s | 329 |
| 1920s | 509 |
| 1930s | 466 |
| 1940s | 543 |
| 1950s | 747 |
| 1960s | 1,963 |
| 1970s | 1,791 |
| 1980s | 653 |
| 1990s | 376 |
| 2000s | 271 |
| 2010s | 197 |
| 2020s | 56 |
Meaning & origin
Thad is a short, punchy name that saw its peak usage in 1967 as a familiar form of the biblical Thaddaeus. Since 1985 it has been on a steady decline, falling from moderate mid-century use to a rank of 8,910 in 2025, when approximately 1 in 213,510 boys received the name. The name's trajectory reflects a broader shift away from clipped biblical nicknames as independent given names. While Thad never broke into the top 1000 nationally, it had its strongest years in the 1960s, fitting the era's preference for names like Tad or Chad. Today it remains a recognizable but rare choice, often associated with the apostle Thaddaeus.
Thad is a short form of Thaddaeus, which is the Greek form of the Aramaic name תדי (Taddai), meaning 'heart' or 'breast' (from the Aramaic word for 'chest') or possibly 'praise'. The New Testament Gospel lists count 'Thaddaeus' among the apostles, though some traditions identify him with Jude the brother of James. The name has been used in the English-speaking world since the Protestant Reformation, often as a given name in its own right since the 20th century.
Where Thad is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Thaddeus
Sibling names for Thad
Names that share Thad's style, for a brother or sister.
