SSA Rankings by Decade: 1900-2020s
The Social Security Administration's baby name database provides the most comprehensive picture of American naming trends. Here's how Thomas has ranked across the decades:
1900s: #8-10 (peaked at #8 in 1903 and 1907)
1910s: #8-10 (held steady throughout World War I)
1920s: #9-12 (slight decline during the Jazz Age)
1930s: #10-12 (stable during the Depression)
1940s: #8-10 (wartime stability)
1950s: #8-9 (peak popularity, #8 in 1952)
1960s: #9-11 (beginning of gradual decline)
1970s: #13-17 (dropping as newer names rose)
1980s: #14-17 (Michael dominated this decade)
1990s: #11-13 (slight resurgence)
2000s: #13-23 (accelerating decline)
2010s: #33-57 (dropping more quickly)
2020s: #43-49 (stabilizing in the 40s)
The pattern shows extraordinary consistency through the mid-20th century followed by gradual erosion. Thomas never experienced the dramatic swings of names like Jennifer (#1 for 14 years, now below #500) or Kevin (#11 in 1963, now below #150).
Babies Named Thomas Per Year
Raw numbers tell a different story than rankings. Because birth rates change and the number of unique names in circulation has exploded, a #47 ranking today represents far fewer babies than a #8 ranking in 1952.
Historical counts:
1910: approximately 16,500 babies named Thomas
1920: approximately 18,200
1930: approximately 17,100
1940: approximately 19,800
1950: approximately 55,400 (baby boom peak)
1960: approximately 51,200
1970: approximately 30,800
1980: approximately 27,500
1990: approximately 27,200
2000: approximately 18,300
2010: approximately 11,200
2020: approximately 5,100
2022: approximately 4,127
The 2022 figure of 4,127 represents the lowest Thomas birth count in SSA records going back to 1900. To put this in perspective, the peak year of 1957 saw approximately 57,000 babies named Thomas. Today's Thomas births are just 7% of the mid-century peak.
This decline isn't unique to Thomas. Nearly all traditional names have seen dramatic drops as parents diversify their choices. In 1950, the top 10 boys' names accounted for about 30% of all male births. By 2020, the top 10 accounted for just 8%. The pie hasn't shrunk; it's been sliced into many more pieces.
State-by-State Distribution
Thomas popularity varies significantly across states, reflecting regional naming traditions, ethnic composition, and cultural factors.
Highest per capita rates (as of recent SSA data):
1. Wisconsin: Thomas consistently ranks 8-10 positions higher than the national average
2. Minnesota: Similar pattern to Wisconsin, reflecting Scandinavian and German Catholic heritage
3. Massachusetts: Strong Irish Catholic influence keeps Thomas popular
4. Connecticut: New England traditional naming persists
5. Rhode Island: Another New England state with Catholic naming traditions
Lowest per capita rates:
1. Nevada: Diverse, transient population with fewer traditional naming patterns
2. Arizona: Western states generally show lower Thomas rates
3. New Mexico: Hispanic naming traditions dominate
4. Hawaii: Pacific Islander and Asian naming patterns prevail
5. Texas: Hispanic population shifts naming patterns
Highest total Thomas births (by volume):
1. California: ~520 Thomas births in 2022
2. Texas: ~380
3. New York: ~290
4. Florida: ~250
5. Illinois: ~210
California leads in raw numbers simply due to population, even though Thomas ranks lower there per capita than in Midwestern states.
Historical Context: Why Thomas Has Endured
Several factors explain Thomas's unusual longevity in American naming:
Religious significance without denominational baggage: Thomas the Apostle is venerated by Catholics, Orthodox Christians, and many Protestant denominations. Unlike names strongly associated with one tradition (like Mary for Catholics or Noah for evangelicals), Thomas crosses sectarian lines.
Presidential and founding father associations: Thomas Jefferson remains one of America's most recognized historical figures. Thomas Edison, Thomas Paine, and Thomas More add intellectual gravitas. The name carries patriotic and educated connotations without political polarization.
International familiarity: Thomas works in virtually every European language and culture. Immigrant families could keep the name while assimilating. A Tomaso becoming Thomas felt natural, not forced.
Nickname flexibility: Tom provides casual friendliness. Tommy works for children. Thomas serves formal occasions. This versatility appeals to parents who want options.
Spelling simplicity: In an era of creative spellings (Jayden/Jaden/Jaiden), Thomas offers unambiguous clarity. There's only one way to spell it, and everyone knows how to pronounce it.
Timeless sound: Thomas lacks the harsh consonants that date some names and the vowel-heavy softness that marks others as trendy. Its two syllables hit a sweet spot between brevity and substance.
Thomas vs. Similar Names
Comparing Thomas to similar traditional names reveals its unique trajectory:
Thomas vs. James: James has followed an almost identical path, currently ranking #4 to Thomas's #47. The difference? James had a resurgence in the 2010s that Thomas missed. Celebrity associations (LeBron James, James Bond reboots) may explain this.
Thomas vs. William: William (currently #6) experienced even more dramatic revival, benefiting from British royal associations (Prince William) and the trendy nickname Liam (now #1 separately).
Thomas vs. Charles: Charles (#52) tracks closely with Thomas, both stable traditional names without recent revival momentum.
Thomas vs. Michael: Michael shows what happens when a traditional name gets too popular. #1 from 1954-1998, Michael became so ubiquitous that parents fled. It's now fallen to #16 and declining. Thomas never peaked high enough to trigger this backlash.
Thomas vs. Christopher: Christopher (#47 in 1967, peaked #2 in 1984) demonstrates the generational pattern Thomas avoided. Christopher was a 1980s name; it sounds dated to that era. Thomas transcends generational association.
Thomas's lack of a dramatic peak may actually explain its longevity. Names that become too popular inevitably feel overused. Thomas has always been common enough to be familiar but never so common as to feel exhausted.
Future Projections
Where does Thomas go from here? Naming trends suggest several possibilities:
Scenario 1: Continued gradual decline. Thomas stabilizes somewhere in the #50-75 range, joining names like Anthony, Andrew, and Christian as perpetually "common but not too common." This seems most likely given current trajectories.
Scenario 2: Revival through vintage appeal. As names from the 1880s-1920s return to fashion (Theodore, Henry, Oliver), Thomas could ride a similar wave. It has the vintage credentials without feeling as dusty as Clarence or Herman.
Scenario 3: Cultural catalyst. A popular movie character, beloved athlete, or other cultural figure could boost Thomas significantly. This happened with Mason (TV show influence) and Liam (Irish celebrity influence).
Scenario 4: British influence. Thomas remains more popular in the UK than in the US, currently ranking around #14 there. Anglo-American cultural exchange could push American Thomas rankings upward.
The most likely outcome combines elements of scenarios 1 and 2. Thomas will probably hold steady in the #40-60 range with occasional fluctuations, never disappearing but never dominating. A century from now, babies will still be named Thomas. That's more than most popular names can claim.