Thaddeus is a name of Greek origin that means "unquiet" or "not calm". It comes from the Greek word "thadeos", which is derived from "theos", meaning "god", and "daimon", meaning "spirit". The name was first used in biblical tradition as one of the seventy-two disciples of Jesus Christ. Thaddeus is often associated with Saint Jude, who is considered the patron saint of lost causes. Throughout history, Thaddeus has been a popular name among early Christians and has since been used by various cultures around the world. It was most commonly used in the United States during the late 19th century but has become less popular in recent years. Today, Thaddeus is still considered an uncommon yet distinctive name choice for boys.
The name Thaddeus saw a significant increase in popularity from the late 19th century onwards, with fewer than 15 births per year until 1888. However, starting in 1889, there were consistently more than 10 births each year. The peak occurred between 1914 and 1923, with over 200 births every year during this period. After the 1920s, the popularity of the name Thaddeus began to decline, reaching a low point in the late 1980s and early 1990s with fewer than 200 births per year. Since then, its popularity has seen some fluctuations but has generally stayed relatively stable, with around 250-350 births each year until recent years where it has been increasing slightly, reaching over 300 births in 2022. In total, there have been 25450 births named Thaddeus from 1880 to 2023.