Thales, derived from the Greek word 'thallein', meaning 'to flourish' or 'to bloom', is an ancient Greek masculine given name of considerable historical significance. It was borne by Thales of Miletus, a pre-Socratic philosopher and one of the Seven Sages of Greece who lived in the 6th century BC. Thales was a mathematician, astronomer, and one of the founders of Western philosophy. His contributions to mathematics include the discovery that all right-angled triangles contain a ratio of their sides that is constant (the Pythagorean theorem). In astronomy, he accurately predicted an eclipse in 585 BC, demonstrating his understanding of the cyclical nature of solar eclipses. The name Thales has since been associated with intelligence, wisdom, and scholarly pursuits, and it remains a popular choice among parents seeking classic and meaningful names for their sons.
"The name Thales saw a significant spike in popularity between 2008 and 2010, with a peak of 17 births in 2009. Since then, the number of annual births has fluctuated but generally remained around 5 to 8 per year."