A 1890s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Thornton since 1880
Babies named Thornton per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1921, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Thornton's real moment was 1899.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 127 |
| 1890s | 92 |
| 1900s | 105 |
| 1910s | 438 |
| 1920s | 551 |
| 1930s | 352 |
| 1940s | 370 |
| 1950s | 309 |
| 1960s | 207 |
| 1970s | 136 |
| 1980s | 101 |
| 1990s | 133 |
| 2000s | 87 |
| 2010s | 89 |
| 2020s | 35 |
Meaning & origin
Thornton is a traditional English surname that has seen periodic use as a first name, particularly in the United States. It first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1880, and reached its peak rank of 7,679 in 1899, reflecting the late-19th-century trend of adopting surnames as given names. After decades of decline, it has been rising in popularity since 2022, with approximately 1 in every 170,808 boys receiving the name in 2025. The name carries a strong, place-based heritage, evoking images of the English countryside. While it has never been among the most common names, its recent upward trajectory suggests a modest revival, especially among parents seeking a classic yet distinctive surname-style name.
Thornton is an English habitational surname derived from Old English 'þorn' (thorn) and 'tūn' (enclosure, settlement), meaning 'thorn bush settlement' or 'thorny village'. It originated from numerous places named Thornton across England, especially in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. As a given name, it came into use in the 19th century, primarily in the United States, following the fashion of using surnames as first names.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Thor, Tony
Sibling names for Thornton
Names that share Thornton's style, for a brother or sister.
