Unisex name · since 1975
Thao
Thao has 1,040 recorded births since 1975 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1984 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #7,306 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 1,040
- born since 1975
- 1980s
- peak decade
Thao sits outside today's top ranks for girls, with 1,040 recorded since 1975.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Thao has been recorded 1,040 times among girls since 1975, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1980s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1975 to 2017.
- #7,306 of 72,339 all-time among girls
- 1,040 born since 1975
- 1980s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Thao ranks #7,306 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 1,040 born since 1975, peaking in the 1980s.
- #7,306 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 1,040
- born since 1975
- 1980s
- peak decade
Thao's 1,040 recorded births place it above 89.89% of the 72,339 girls names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 5 jurisdictions, led by California.
Thao's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Thao's SSA record in two at 1996 and the more recent half accounts for 28% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 72%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 2012, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1984 peak of 58, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Thao popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1975–2017
- Peak year (1984)
- 58
- Annual births at peak, across 43 years of records
Thao popularity over time - boys
197 total births recorded since 1979 (Thao as boys' name)
Thao by decade
1980s is the heaviest window (424 births, 41% of the file).
1980s was Thao's strongest decade.
424 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 41% of all-time use.
Thao births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s 62
1970s
62 births
- 1980s
1980s
424 births
- 1990s
1990s
375 births
- 2000s 131
2000s
131 births
- 2010s 48
2010s
48 births
What this shows Peak: 1980s at 424 births (41% of all-time use).
How Thao compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Thao's total volume
Thao by state
Where Thao concentrates geographically, total births since 1975
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 289 | 27.8% |
| #2 | Texas | | 101 | 9.7% |
| #3 | Louisiana | | 27 | 2.6% |
| #4 | Colorado | | 5 | 0.5% |
| #5 | Washington | | 5 | 0.5% |
289 of 1,040 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 5 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with Thao's data
- Thao's decade-level peak was the 1980s (424 total births); usage has since declined to 48 in the 2010s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Thaos (289 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Thao
Nearby Names Like Thao
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Thao
Compare Thao side by side: Thao vs Thalia Thao vs Thais Thao vs Thania
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Thao: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1984)
Similar record span (~42 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1975–2017 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Thao draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.