Thayer

Meaning & origin

Thayer is a rare given name that entered U.S. birth records in 1912. Its peak year was 2019, when it reached its highest recorded rank. Since 2015 the name has been falling in usage, reflecting a trajectory of declining popularity. In the most recent year tracked (2025), approximately 1 in 113,872 boys were named Thayer, making it an uncommon choice. The name has not been strongly associated with any particular state in recent decades. Thayer fits a modern trend of using surnames as first names, particularly those with a clean, WASP-y sound akin to Blake or Drew. Its occupational meaning as 'thatcher' lends it a grounded, artisan quality that appeals to parents seeking a distinctive but not outlandish name.

Thayer is an English surname of occupational origin. It derives from Middle English 'the(i)er', 'theyer', meaning 'a thatcher', someone who roofed buildings with straw or reeds. Alternatively, it may come from a place name referring to a 'thicket' or 'wood'. As a given name, Thayer emerged in the United States in the early 20th century, likely inspired by the surname tradition. It saw modest use throughout the 1900s and experienced a minor peak in the 2010s.