Declining since 1985.
Popularity of Thurman since 1880
Babies named Thurman per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1920, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Thurman's real moment was 1888.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 173 |
| 1890s | 167 |
| 1900s | 295 |
| 1910s | 2,349 |
| 1920s | 3,204 |
| 1930s | 2,625 |
| 1940s | 2,561 |
| 1950s | 1,814 |
| 1960s | 1,290 |
| 1970s | 754 |
| 1980s | 488 |
| 1990s | 361 |
| 2000s | 172 |
| 2010s | 101 |
| 2020s | 38 |
Meaning & origin
Thurman is a name that reached its peak popularity in 1888, a year when it was most frequently recorded. Since 1985, its usage has been steadily declining, and today it is rare, with no recent ranking data available. The name has not revived in any recent decade, remaining a low-frequency choice. Its trajectory highlights a pattern of falling out of favor, reflecting broader shifts in naming trends away from older, masculine-sounding surnames. The first recorded instance of Thurman in U.S. data dates back to 1880, indicating it has been in use for over a century, though never achieving widespread popularity beyond its late 19th-century peak.
The name Thurman is of uncertain derivation. It is traditionally considered an English surname, possibly a variant of Thurmond. The elements may be from Old English 'thur' meaning 'giant' or 'thunder' combined with 'mann' meaning 'man', but the specific origin remains debated. It has been used as a given name since the 19th century, particularly in the United States.
Where Thurman is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Sibling names for Thurman
Names that share Thurman's style, for a brother or sister.
