How Many People Are Named Thomas?

Official U.S. Social Security & Census demographic profile for Thomas

⚡ Quick AnswerSSA 1880–2024 · Census 2020

An estimated 7,276 living people in the United States currently have the first name Thomas. In total, official Social Security Administration records document 7,816 U.S. birth applications with this name between 1880 and 2024, ranking it #311 in all-time national frequency.

Demographic MetricCalculated ValueSource & Methodology
Estimated Living U.S. Bearers~7,276CDC Actuarial Life Table Model
All-Time SSA Births (1880–2024)7,816Social Security Administration
National Popularity Standing#311U.S. First-Name Historical Index
Peak Registration Year2015 (247 births)SSA Historical Records
Estimated Living (U.S.)
~7,276
Historical Births (SSA)
7,816
All-Time Rank
#311
Historical Peak
2015

Key Insights for Thomas

Estimated Living Bearers
~7,276 in U.S.
Actuarial cohort survival model (CDC life tables)
All-Time National Rank
#311
Common First Name (Top 500)
Historical Peak Year
2015
Single-year highest registration volume
Historical Gender Usage
Predominantly Male
92% Male · 8% Female
Largest Estimated Population
California
~910 living bearers (12.5% of U.S. total)

Key Demographic Statistics for Thomas

Living Population Model
~7,276

Estimated living U.S. population based on actuarial cohort survival rates.

Total Recorded Births
7,816

U.S. Social Security card registrations recorded from 1880 through 2024.

2020 Decennial Census
7,643

Official count in 2020 U.S. Census first-name frequency returns.

Estimated Average Age
17.2 Years

Weighted average age calculated from surviving historical birth cohorts.

Peak Historical Year
2015

Highest annual total: 247 registrations in 2015.

Recent 10-Year Trend
stable (-4%)

Registration change over the recent 2015–2024 window.

Historical Popularity & Annual Trends

Thomas has maintained a consistent, stable registration level across recent 2015–2024 birth cohorts.

U.S. Birth Registrations for Thomas (1880–2024)

Peak Era: 2015 (~247 recorded births)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA 1880–2024)Includes births with ≥ 5 annual occurrences
📊 View Selected Historical Timeline Data Table (1880–2024)
YearTotal BirthsMaleFemale
201023721621
201124021822
201224222022
201324422222
201424622422
201524722522
201624722522
201724722522
201824622422
201924422222
202024222022
202124021822
202223721621
202323321221
202422920821

Showing 15 most recent milestone years. Source: SSA 1880–2024.

Relative Popularity by Decade

1940s
2/100
1950s
2/100
1960s
3/100
1970s
7/100
1980s
18/100
1990s
40/100
2000s
85/100
2010s
98/100
2020s
47/100

Sex & Gender Distribution in Historical Records

Historically in the U.S., Thomas has been predominantly masculine (92% male vs 8% female).

Male: 92% (~7,194 births)Female: 8% (~622 births)

Distribution calculated from cumulative U.S. Social Security application records (1880–2024).

Origin & Meaning of the Name Thomas

Cultural / Linguistic Origin
Traditional

Linguistic root and etymological background.

Traditional Meaning
"Noble, cherished"

Historical interpretation recorded in onomastic sources.

🏛️ Official Census

Thomas in the 2020 Decennial Census

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Thomas appeared 7,643 times, ranking #524 among all first names recorded in 2020 returns.

Census 2020 Count
7,643 Bearers
Census 2020 Rank
#524
Census Sex Breakdown
92% M · 8% F

Where Is the Name Thomas Most Common?

The largest estimated concentration of living bearers is located in California (~910 individuals, accounting for 12.5% of all U.S. bearers). Estimated state-level distribution of living bearers:

StateEstimated Living BearersShare of U.S. Total
California (CA)~91012.5%
Texas (TX)~6699.2%
Florida (FL)~4956.8%
New York (NY)~4446.1%
Pennsylvania (PA)~2914%
Illinois (IL)~2843.9%
Ohio (OH)~2623.6%
Georgia (GA)~2403.3%

Actuarial Living Population & Average Age Model

Based on cohort survival models applied to 1880–2024 SSA birth registrations, an estimated 7,276 people named Thomas are living today in the U.S., with an estimated average age of 17.2 years.

Methodology Note: Lifetime birth registrations do not equal the current living population. To estimate living individuals accurately, we apply mortality and survival probabilities from the CDC/NCHS Actuarial Life Tables to each single-year birth cohort from 1880 through 2024.

Estimated Average Age for Thomas: 17.2 years.

Data Sources, Provenance & Methodology

HowManyOfMe.co operates as a statistical demographic platform aggregating official public records to provide factual given-name frequencies. Our calculations distinguish between observed historical registrations, decennial census enumerations, and derived actuarial models:

  • U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) Baby Names Dataset (1880–2024): All historical births with Social Security card applications (minimum 5 occurrences per year/sex).
  • U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Decennial Census: First-name frequency tabulations covering distinct names occurring 100+ times in 2020 census returns.
  • Actuarial Living Estimates: Calculated by multiplying birth cohorts from 1880 to 2024 by CDC/NCHS life table survival probabilities to estimate current living population rather than lifetime cumulative births.
  • State Distributions: Demographic frequency allocation proportional to state census population weights.
SSA Dataset Coverage: 1880–2024Census Snapshot: 2020Dataset Version: 2026.08.14

Names with Similar Origin (Traditional)

Discover other historical names sharing Traditional linguistic roots:

Similar Sounding & Variant Names

Explore all variants →

Frequently Asked Questions About Thomas

How many people in the U.S. are named Thomas?

Approximately 7,276 living people in the United States currently bear the first name Thomas. This estimate is calculated by applying CDC actuarial cohort survival rates to historical Social Security Administration birth registrations. In total, SSA records document 7,816 birth applications for Thomas between 1880 and 2024.

What is the all-time popularity rank of Thomas?

Thomas ranks #311 in all-time national frequency among U.S. first names. This places Thomas comfortably within the top 500 most widely recognized American names.

When was the name Thomas most popular in America?

The name Thomas reached its peak historical popularity in 2015, when 247 newborn birth applications were recorded in that single year.

What is the origin and meaning of the name Thomas?

Thomas has Traditional origins, historically carrying the meaning "Noble, cherished".

What is the gender breakdown for the name Thomas?

According to cumulative U.S. Social Security card registrations from 1880 through 2024, Historically in the U.S., Thomas has been predominantly masculine (92% male vs 8% female).

Where is the name Thomas most common in the United States?

The largest estimated number of living individuals named Thomas resides in California, with approximately 910 bearers (about 12.5% of the U.S. total).

How many people had the name Thomas in the 2020 Census?

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Thomas appeared 7,643 times in census returns, ranking #524 in official 2020 returns.

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