Thomas, of Greek origin, means 'twin'. It has been a popular given name throughout history due to its biblical association with one of Jesus' twelve apostles, Thomas the Apostle, often referred to as 'Doubting Thomas'. This name gained further prominence through notable figures like Thomas Becket, an 11th-century Archbishop of Canterbury, and Thomas Edison, the prolific American inventor. In literature, it is associated with characters such as Thomas Hardy's tragic heroine Tess Durberville, and Thomas Covenant, the protagonist in Stephen R. Donaldson's fantasy series 'The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever'. The name has also been used by several monarchs across Europe, most notably in the United Kingdom where it was borne by two kings: Thomas I (1138-1166) and Thomas II (1490-1547). Today, Thomas remains a popular choice for boys' names worldwide. Its variants include Tommy, Tom, Thom, Tomek, and Tamas.
"Between 1943 and 1988, the name Thoms had a total of 210 babies born with it. The number of births varied each year, ranging from as few as 5 to as many as 11. The most popular years for the name were 1986 and 1987, both seeing 11 births."