Male name
Thomas
162,238 births (England and Wales, 1996–2025), peaking in 1996. Expression number: 22.
Origin
Inherited from Middle English Thomas, from Latin Thōmās m (as in the Vulgate), from Ancient Greek Θωμᾶς m (Thōmâs), the Biblical Greek transcription of Aramaic תאומא or תאמא (“twin”), the nickname of one of the Twelve Apostles. In the gospel of John (11:16, 20:24), the Aramaic nickname is also translated into Greek, as δίδυμος m (dídumos). Used as a given name since the Middle Ages, e.g. Thomas the Presbyter (7th century), Thomas the Slav (8th century), Thomas of Bayeux (died 1100). (infidel or doubter): In reference to the doubting Apostle.From Wiktionary, entry “Thomas”, text under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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How many babies received it
From the official birth registers.
In England and Wales
Peak in 1996: 9,603 births. 162,238 births from 1996 to 2025. A name given mostly in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. At its peak, it ranked 2nd among boys' names in 1998. It is still given: 9,145 births from 2021 to 2025.
Source: Office for National Statistics, Baby names in England and Wales, Open Government Licence v3.0.
In the United States
Peak in 1952: 48,725 births. 2,367,087 births from 1880 to 2025. A name given steadily, decade after decade, from the 1930s to the 1970s. At its peak, it ranked 8th among boys' names in 1880. It is still given: 33,364 births from 2021 to 2025.
Source: Social Security Administration, Popular Baby Names, public domain.
In Ireland
Peak in 1965: 1,367 births. 36,744 births from 1964 to 2025. A name given mostly in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. At its peak, it ranked 5th among boys' names in 1965. It is still given: 1,202 births from 2021 to 2025.
Source: Central Statistics Office, Irish Babies' Names, CC BY 4.0.
Elsewhere in the world
The name in the birth records of the 10 countries we track. The period covered varies from country to country.
| Country | Births | Period | Best rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | 282,440 | 1900–2025 | 1st in 1996 |
| Switzerland | 52,746* | 1915–2025 | — |
| Austria | 32,037 | 1984–2025 | 2nd in 1984 |
| Quebec | 20,497 | 1980–2025 | 1st in 2008 |
| Argentina | 16,638 | 2012–2023 | — |
| Belgium | 1,059 | 2014–2023 | — |
| Berlin | 801 | 2012–2023 | 63rd in 2022 |
* These are the people living in the country, counted by year of birth, not the number of births.
Source: INSEE, Fichier des prénoms, Etalab Open Licence 2.0; Federal Statistical Office, First names of the population by year of birth, free use with attribution; Statistik Austria, Vornamen, CC BY 4.0; Retraite Québec, Banque de prénoms, CC BY 4.0; RENAPER, Nombres propios en Argentina, CC BY 4.0 (the registry doesn't record sex); Statbel, first names of newborns, CC BY 4.0 (one total for the whole period, no yearly breakdown); Open Data Berlin, Häufige Vornamen, CC BY 3.0 DE (every name a child carries, not only the first).
The numbers of the name
Each letter has a value: A = 1, B = 2… I = 9, then J = 1 again (Pythagorean method). We add them up, then reduce to a single digit, except 11, 22 and 33.
■ vowel · ■ consonant
Expression
All the letters: talents, the way you act.
22
the large-scale builder (master number)
2 + 8 + 6 + 4 + 1 + 1 = 22
Soul
The vowels: what drives you deep down.
7
reflection, inner life, seeking
6 + 1 = 7
Personality
The consonants: what others notice first.
6
responsibility, harmony, commitment to others
2 + 8 + 4 + 1 = 15 → 6
- Digits missing from the name
- 3, 5, 7, 9
- Most frequent digit
- 1 · initiative, independence, beginnings
The meaning of the numbers comes from numerological tradition; it isn't a measure of your personality. A full portrait needs your first and middle names, your last name at birth, and your date of birth. How we calculate
Your name and theirs
The number of each name, and the number of the bond, which comes from adding them together. A symbolic game: what your two names say together, to be read as a metaphor, not as a verdict on your relationship.