Thaddaeus

Meaning & origin

Thaddaeus is a deeply uncommon name with strong biblical associations. First recorded in the United States in 1924, it peaked in usage during 2005 but has been in decline since at least 2001, consistent with a longer falling trajectory. In the most recent data from 2025, it ranked 7,679 and occurred in roughly 1 of every 170,808 male births. The name has not been heavily tied to any particular state; its top-states list is empty, suggesting a diffuse but very sparse pattern of use. Its rarity may appeal to parents seeking a distinctive apostolic name, though the more common variant Thaddeus is far more frequent. The overwhelming majority of bearers are boys, and the name has never crossed over into unisex usage.

Thaddaeus is the Greek form of an Aramaic name, possibly related to 'thaddai' meaning 'heart' or 'breast'. In the New Testament, Thaddaeus was one of the twelve apostles, sometimes identified with Jude the Apostle. The name has been in occasional use among Christians, particularly in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, but remains rare in English-speaking countries.