Total births
2,358,576
Boys' name · since 1880
Thomas
Since 1880, U.S. Social Security records show 2,358,576 babies named Thomas, peaking in 1952. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #39
- among boys today
- 2,358,576
- born since 1880
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 99.7%
- more common than other boys
Thomas currently ranks #39 among boys' names in America, with 2,358,576 babies recorded since 1880.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Thomas has been recorded 2,358,576 times among boys since 1880, currently ranked #39 nationally and more common than 99.7% of boys, with its heaviest use in the 1950s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1880 to 2025.
- #39 among boys today
- 2,358,576 born since 1880
- 1950s peak decade
- 99.7% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Thomas is currently the #39 boys' name in America, more common than 99.7% of boys - 2,358,576 born since 1880, peaking in the 1950s.
- #39
- among boys today
- 2,358,576
- born since 1880
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 99.7%
- more common than other boys
Thomas vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#39
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 99.7% of names given to boys today.
1950s
Peak decade
19% of everyone ever named Thomas was born in this single decade.
1952
Single peak year
48,647 babies were named Thomas in 1952 - its busiest year on record.
How Thomas compares
2,358,576 Top 0% higher than 100% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Thomas's all-time total is 6,427x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Thomas | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 2,358,576 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 48,647 | 23 | 22,252 |
Thomas's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Thomas's SSA record in two at 1953 and the more recent half accounts for 58% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 42%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1899, with only 1,811 births recorded -- set against the 1952 peak of 48,647, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Thomas at a glance
Top 100 boys' namePeak year
1952
Current rank
#39
Active since
1880
Thomas popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1880–2025
- Peak year (1952)
- 48,647
- Annual births at peak, across 146 years of records
Thomas popularity over time - girls
8,511 total births recorded since 1880 (Thomas as girls' name)
Thomas by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1950s was Thomas's strongest decade.
454,385 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 19% of all-time use.
Thomas births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 23,750
1880s
23,750 births
- 1890s 21,115
1890s
21,115 births
- 1900s 21,783
1900s
21,783 births
- 1910s 91,619
1910s
91,619 births
- 1920s 161,107
1920s
161,107 births
- 1930s
1930s
183,878 births
- 1940s
1940s
350,775 births
- 1950s
1950s
454,385 births
- 1960s
1960s
327,055 births
- 1970s
1970s
186,739 births
- 1980s 177,817
1980s
177,817 births
- 1990s 146,638
1990s
146,638 births
- 2000s 102,106
2000s
102,106 births
- 2010s 70,027
2010s
70,027 births
- 2020s 39,782
2020s
39,782 births
What this shows Peak: 1950s at 454,385 births (19% of all-time use).
How Thomas compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Thomas's total volume
Thomas vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Thomas by state
Where Thomas concentrates geographically, total births since 1880
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | New York | | 242,659 | 10.3% |
| #2 | Pennsylvania | | 184,004 | 7.8% |
| #3 | California | | 136,405 | 5.8% |
| #4 | Illinois | | 134,032 | 5.7% |
| #5 | Ohio | | 132,958 | 5.6% |
| #6 | Michigan | | 105,953 | 4.5% |
| #7 | New Jersey | | 95,022 | 4.0% |
| #8 | Texas | | 92,850 | 3.9% |
New York share of Thomas's total US births 10.3%
Even split
242,659 of 2,358,576 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 51 reporting states.
Thomas appears in 51 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Thomas? ▼
Since 1880, Social Security records show 2,358,576 babies named Thomas. Today it holds rank #39 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 1952, with 48,647 births.
When was Thomas most popular? ▼
Thomas was most popular in the 1950s decade with 454,385 total births. The single peak year was 1952.
Where is Thomas most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Thomas are New York (242,659 births), Pennsylvania (184,004 births), California (136,405 births).
How long has the name Thomas been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Thomas since 1880 -- 146 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Thomas? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Thor, Thornton, Thompson, Thorin, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Thomas's data
- Thomas's decade-level peak was the 1950s (454,385 total births); usage has since declined to 39,782 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- New York records the most Thomass (242,659 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. New York names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Thomas
Nearby Names Like Thomas
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Thomas
Thor Boy
#2792 4,857 births
Thornton Boy
#10943 3,132 births
Thompson Boy
#2921 2,725 births
Thorin Boy
#1362 2,301 births
Thom Boy
844 births
Compare Thomas side by side: Thomas vs Thor Thomas vs Thornton Thomas vs Thompson
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Thomas
Wyatt #38
208,452 births · Peak 2017
Jacob #40
988,227 births · Peak 1998
Miles #37
122,868 births · Peak 2024
Isaac #41
331,508 births · Peak 2007
Maverick #36
70,604 births · Peak 2022
Mason #42
342,583 births · Peak 2011
Jackson #35
297,220 births · Peak 2013
Gabriel #43
395,778 births · Peak 2008
Data Sources
Data as of June 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, 1880–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Thomas: #39 Boys' Name - 2,358,576 Births, Peak 1952." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/thomas. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
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 Thomas 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 June 2026.