Tommie is a name of Irish origin that has been used for both boys and girls in recent years. It is a variant spelling of the name Tommy, which is itself a diminutive form of Thomas. The name Thomas is derived from the Aramaic word "t'oma", meaning "twin". According to tradition, it was given to one of Jesus Christ's apostles who was called Judas (also known as Didymus) because he was a twin.
The name Tommie has been used throughout history, although its popularity has varied over time. In the Middle Ages, it was more commonly used for boys than girls, but in recent decades, it has become popular for both sexes. Some famous people with the name Tommie include American football player Tommie Smith and Australian actress Tommie Manderson.
Overall, Tommie is a name that carries a strong historical legacy while also being modern and versatile enough to be used for either gender. Its meaning as "twin" adds an interesting layer of symbolism to the name, although it is ultimately up to each individual what they choose to associate with their own name.
The name Tommie experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the years. In its early years (1880-1900), there were fewer than 50 births per year on average. However, it began to gain traction around 1907, with 96 births that year, and continued to rise steadily until reaching a peak of 496 births in 1927.
The name maintained relatively high popularity throughout the mid-20th century, with an average of approximately 500 births per year between 1940 and 1970. However, it began to decline significantly thereafter, dropping below 300 births per year by the early 1980s.
In recent years (2000-2023), Tommie has become quite rare, with fewer than 50 births per year on average. The most recent data shows only 31 births in 2022 and 32 births in 2023, indicating that the name is now seldom chosen for newborns.
In total, over the span of 143 years (1880-2023), there were a combined 34,387 babies named Tommie.