Thomas
TOM-us /ˈtɒm.əs/
Meaning of Thomas
Thomas comes from the Aramaic תּוֹמָא (Toma), meaning 'twin.' In the New Testament, the apostle Thomas — called Didymus ('twin' in Greek) — is most famous for the 'Doubting Thomas' episode in John 20. The Aramaic form entered Latin as Thomas and spread through Christendom with the martyr Thomas Becket (1118–1170) accelerating its popularity in England.
Current popularity of Thomas
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #48 |
| United Kingdom (ONS) | 2024 | #9 |
| France (INSEE) | 2024 | #14 |
Cultural notes
Has been in the UK top-15 continuously since records began — one of the most persistent boys' names in English history.
Notable bearers of Thomas
Saint Thomas the Apostle; Thomas Becket; Thomas Jefferson; Thomas Hardy.
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Thomas — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31