Thaddeus is a distinctive and historic given name of Greek origin, meaning 'unicom'. It was borne by several early Christian martyrs, which contributed to its popularity during the Middle Ages. The name Thaddeus has been associated with various notable figures throughout history, including Thaddeus of Edessa, a 1st-century apostle who is said to have brought Christianity to Mesopotamia and Syria. In literature, it is the name given to the character in Charles Dickens' 'Martin Chuzzlewit'. Today, Thaddeus remains an uncommon yet elegant choice for parents seeking a unique name for their child.
The name Thaddeus experienced a notable resurgence between 1970 and 1973 with five or more births per year during this period, followed by a dip in popularity until the mid-1980s when it saw another spike of five births each in 1981 and 1985. Over these years, a total of 32 babies were named Thaddeus.