Holding steady.
Popularity of Thom since 1917
Babies named Thom per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1961, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Thom's real moment was 1948.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 7 |
| 1920s | 6 |
| 1930s | 32 |
| 1940s | 178 |
| 1950s | 187 |
| 1960s | 194 |
| 1970s | 99 |
| 1980s | 93 |
| 1990s | 28 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 15 |
| 2020s | 5 |
Meaning & origin
Thom is a variant spelling of Tom, the classic diminutive of Thomas. While the name Thomas has been a perennial favorite, ranking in the top 10 for much of the early 20th century, the specific spelling Thom has always been rare. It first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1917, and its peak year for usage was 1948, during the decade when the shortened form Tom was most fashionable. Since then, Thom has remained a stable but uncommon choice, never breaking into the national rankings. For families seeking a familiar-sounding name with a less common written form, Thom offers a subtle twist on a traditional classic.
Thom is a variant spelling of Tom, the common diminutive of Thomas. Thomas derives from the Aramaic name תאומא (Ta'oma'), meaning 'twin'. It came into Greek as Θωμᾶς (Thomas) and was borne by one of the twelve apostles, which contributed to its widespread use across Christian cultures. The spelling Thom is less common than Tom but has persisted as a distinctive variant, particularly in the 20th century.
“Thom” around the world
Where Thom lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Tom
Sibling names for Thom
Names that share Thom's style, for a brother or sister.
