Thurlow
A boy's name of Old English origin with 422 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A surname from Old English.
Thurlow is a boy's baby name of Old English origin, from the Old English Þyrvalǫkr or Þurlāv, meaning 'Thor's mound' or 'Thor's burial place,' referencing the Norse god of thunder. As a place name turned surname, it carries rugged Old English and Norse heritage.
Thurlow has the distinguished character of English place-name surnames used as given names — carrying both the thundering authority of Thor and the quiet dignity of English country naming. Lord Thurlow, the 18th-century Lord Chancellor, gave the name its most prominent historical profile.
EtymologyShow more
Names travel. They cross oceans, change spelling, shift pronunciation, and accumulate new associations with each culture that adopts them. Thurlow is rooted in the Old English tradition, but its presence in American naming since 1883 means it has been shaped by English phonetics, local customs, and the cultural context of the families who chose it.
Thurlow’s rarity (422 recorded births) may indicate it is strongly tied to a specific cultural community or family tradition, rather than part of the broader American naming mainstream.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Thurlow has 43+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1883.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5 | #6777 | — |
| 1960s | 5 | #4552 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 36 | #3867 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 48 | #3479 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 74 | #2906 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 129 | #2515 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 119 | #2014 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 6 | #876 | — |
The Story of Thurlow
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1915, Thurlow is a name steeped in history. Boys named Thurlow are most likely born between 1905 and 1925.
How rare is Thurlow?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Thurlow is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1883, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 129 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Thurlow by the numbers
- Would fill 9 school buses
- Meeting one Thurlow per day would take 1.2 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(43 years, 1883–1977)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 5 | #6777 |
| 1960 | 5 | #4552 |
| 1958 | 5 | #4462 |
| 1956 | 5 | #4411 |
| 1955 | 7 | #3478 |
| 1952 | 5 | #4217 |
| 1951 | 7 | #3335 |
| 1950 | 7 | #3296 |
| 1949 | 8 | #2999 |
| 1947 | 5 | #4221 |
| 1946 | 7 | #3142 |
| 1943 | 5 | #3996 |
| 1942 | 13 | #2139 |
| 1941 | 5 | #3959 |
| 1940 | 5 | #3895 |
| 1939 | 7 | #3084 |
| 1937 | 8 | #2891 |
| 1936 | 6 | #3512 |
| 1935 | 10 | #2517 |
| 1934 | 15 | #1924 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Thurlow a boy's or girl's name?
When was Thurlow most popular?
How popular is the name Thurlow?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1883–1977