Thomas is a popular given name of Germanic origin, derived from the ancient Greek name "Toma", which means "twin". It is believed that this name was first used as an identifier for one of the twin sons of a legendary pair of twins in ancient Greece.
The use of the name Thomas can be traced back to the 12th century, when it began to appear in the British Isles. Over time, it gained popularity and became one of the most commonly used names in English-speaking countries.
Historically, the name Thomas has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. Saint Thomas the Apostle, one of Jesus Christ's twelve apostles, is perhaps the most famous bearer of this name. Additionally, there have been numerous kings, knights, and scholars named Thomas throughout history.
Today, Thomas remains a popular choice for parents naming their sons. It has consistently ranked among the top 100 names given to boys in the United States since the early 20th century.
The name Thomas saw a significant increase in popularity from the late 19th century to the early 20th century, with a particularly notable jump during World War I. Between 1914 and 1918, there was an average of over 35,000 births per year named Thomas, peaking at nearly 40,000 in 1916. This trend continued into the 1920s but began to decline steadily thereafter.
By the late 1960s and early 1970s, the name Thomas had fallen out of fashion, with fewer than 3,000 births per year being named Thomas. This low point persisted until the mid-1980s when there was a resurgence in its popularity. The name Thomas then maintained a consistent level of popularity throughout the late 1980s and 1990s but has since declined again, with fewer than 7,000 births per year named Thomas in recent years.
Overall, the name Thomas has had significant ups and downs in popularity over the past century and a half.