How to say it
TOM · us
ˈtɑ.məs
Masculine
Thomas
Twin
What it means
From the Aramaic Tau'ma, meaning twin. The Apostle Thomas was traditionally said to be a twin (his name appears in Greek as Didymos, also meaning twin).
The Apostle Thomas, called Doubting Thomas for asking to see Christ's wounds before believing, is one of the central figures of the New Testament. The name carried into Greek as Thōmas, then Latin and every European language. Saint Thomas Aquinas (13th century) made it central in Catholic theology. American president Thomas Jefferson and inventor Thomas Edison kept the name in US history. Welsh Tomos, Spanish Tomás, Italian Tommaso, French Thomas are all the same name. Currently US top sixty for boys, down from its 20th-century heights but still solid. Common short forms: Tom, Tommy.
How to spell Thomas
The standard spelling is Thomas. Common variants include Tomás, Tommaso, Tomos, Tomek, but Thomas is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #8 in 1880, currently #34 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Tom is universal; Tommy is the childhood form. The H is silent.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Thomas Edison Inventor of the phonograph and the practical light bulb
- Thomas Hardy Victorian novelist, Tess of the d'Urbervilles
- Thomas the Tank Engine 1946 children's book series turned global franchise
- Saint Thomas the Apostle Doubting Thomas, 1st century
Spelling variants
- Tomás
- Tommaso
- Tomos
- Tomek
Names with the same feeling
See Thomas from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Thomas mean?
- From the Aramaic Tau'ma, meaning twin. The Apostle Thomas was traditionally said to be a twin (his name appears in Greek as Didymos, also meaning twin).
- What does Thomas mean in Aramaic?
- In Aramaic, Thomas means "Twin." The Apostle Thomas, called Doubting Thomas for asking to see Christ's wounds before believing, is one of the central figures of the New Testament. The name carried into Greek as Thōmas, then Latin and every European language. Saint Thomas Aquinas (13th century) made it central in Catholic theology. American president Thomas Jefferson and inventor Thomas Edison kept the name in US history. Welsh Tomos, Spanish Tomás, Italian Tommaso, French Thomas are all the same name. Currently US top sixty for boys, down from its 20th-century heights but still solid. Common short forms: Tom, Tommy.
- How do you pronounce Thomas?
- Thomas is pronounced ˈtɑ.məs. Say it as TOM-us, with the stress on the "tom" syllable.
- How do you spell Thomas?
- The standard spelling is Thomas. Common spelling variants include Tomás, Tommaso, Tomos, Tomek.
- Is Thomas a boy or girl name?
- Thomas is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Thomas?
- Thomas ranked #34 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.