Is Thaddeus a boy's or girl's name?

Thaddeus is primarily a boy's name. It is also used as a girl's name, with 32 recorded births.

When was Thaddeus most popular?

Thaddeus reached its peak popularity in 2016 with 416 births that year. It is currently ranked #850 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Thaddeus?

Thaddeus is currently ranked #850 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 25,739 babies since 1880.

Thaddeus

A familiar Aramaic name with steady appeal.

Boy's name| Also girlsAramaicDeclining Also a pet name

#850▲ 48in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A male given name from Ancient Greek, of common usage, variant of Thaddaeus.

Thaddeus is a boy's and girl's baby name of Aramaic origin, from the Aramaic Taddai, possibly meaning "heart" or "courageous heart," or alternatively from the Hebrew meaning "praised." Thaddeus was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, also known as Jude.

Thaddeus is having a notable comeback as parents seek long, stately New Testament names with natural nickname options — Thad being the most obvious. With over 25,000 U.S. births recorded, it carries the weight of apostolic tradition with a grandly formal character.

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Popularity Over Time

Thaddeus has 144+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1880.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Thaddeus
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	1,443	#832	▼
2010s	3,090	#779	▲
2000s	2,050	#887	▼
1990s	2,361	#698	—
1980s	2,399	#575	▼
1970s	2,889	#477	▲
1960s	2,101	#540	—
1950s	2,192	#495	▲
1940s	1,427	#530	▲
1930s	1,214	#533	▼
1920s	2,421	#390	▲
1910s	1,793	#389	▲
1900s	155	#667	▲
1890s	93	#744	▼
1880s	111	#613	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(144 years, 1880–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Thaddeus
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	284	#850	+25 (9.7%)
2023	259	#898	-49 (-15.9%)
2022	308	#810	+13 (4.4%)
2021	295	#817	-2 (-0.7%)
2020	297	#785	-28 (-8.6%)
2019	325	#742	-19 (-5.5%)
2018	344	#708	-43 (-11.1%)
2017	387	#661	-29 (-7.0%)
2016	416	#640	+58 (16.2%)
2015	358	#705	+30 (9.1%)
2014	328	#731	+48 (17.1%)
2013	280	#796	+49 (21.2%)
2012	231	#900	+8 (3.6%)
2011	223	#909	+25 (12.6%)
2010	198	#994	+7 (3.7%)
2009	191	#1023	-20 (-9.5%)
2008	211	#953	-17 (-7.5%)
2007	228	#886	+37 (19.4%)
2006	191	#975	-1 (-0.5%)
2005	192	#918	+3 (1.6%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Thaddeus as a Girl's Name

While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Thaddeus has also been given to 32 girls in the U.S. since 1932.

Unranked

Current rank

Total births

1932

Peak year

Compare Thaddeus as boy vs girl

Frequently Asked

Can Thaddeus be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Thaddeus is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name, it currently ranks #850. As a girl's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Thaddeus has two lives

Thaddeus, the baby name

#850boys

25,739 babies

Currently viewing

Thaddeus, the pet name

#3768pet name

21 pets

View pet page →

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1880–2024) · Methodology