Declining since 2022, #5,208 for boys today.
Popularity of Thunder since 1975
Babies named Thunder per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 14 |
| 1980s | 16 |
| 1990s | 118 |
| 2000s | 133 |
| 2010s | 163 |
| 2020s | 118 |
Meaning & origin
Thunder is a modern word name that entered the U.S. naming landscape in 1975, well after the heyday of virtue and nature names from the Puritan era. Its trajectory has been volatile: after a peak in 2018, it has been falling in popularity since 2022, with no strong regional concentration as its top states list is empty. As a rare choice, Thunder appeals to parents seeking an unmistakably powerful, elemental name. Its 1-in-94,893 occurrence in 2025 underscores its status as a bold outlier among contemporary baby names. While it lacks historical depth, Thunder fits squarely within the modern tradition of pulling evocative English nouns into the name pool.
Thunder is a modern word name taken directly from the English vocabulary word for the natural phenomenon. It gained limited use as a given name in the late 20th century, reflecting a broader trend of adopting nature- and power-related terms as names. It remains rare and is often chosen for its bold, striking sound rather than any traditional onomastic lineage.
Sibling names for Thunder
Names that share Thunder's style, for a brother or sister.
