Thurman
Primarily a boy's name of Old Norse origin with 16,391 recorded births. Also given to 5 girls.
Meaning & Origin
A surname from Old Norse.
Thurman is a boy's and girl's baby name of Old Norse origin, derived from Þórmaðr, combining Þór (Thor, the thunder god) and maðr (man), meaning 'Thor's man' or 'man of Thor.'
Thurman has the feel of a weathered Americana surname-turned-given-name, connected to the mythology of Norse thunder while sounding solidly mid-century American. Actor Uma Thurman brought the name wider cultural recognition, though it has long roots as a masculine first name in the rural South and Midwest.
EtymologyShow more
Thurman is built from 7 letters and two syllables — a mid-length form that balances memorability with distinctiveness. Within the Old Norse naming tradition, this length is typical of names that preserve their full historical form, carrying their etymology on the surface.
The interplay of consonants and vowels in Thurman creates its characteristic clean, contemporary quality. Two-syllable names are the most common length in American naming, hitting a natural speech rhythm that works across formal and informal contexts.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Thurman was #4985 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #13994, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 38 | #10808 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 101 | #8460 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 172 | #5320 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 361 | #2345 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 488 | #1514 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 754 | #975 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 1,290 | #686 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 1,814 | #549 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 2,561 | #391 | — |
| 1930s | 2,624 | #340 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 3,204 | #321 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 2,349 | #301 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 295 | #452 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 167 | #521 | — |
| 1880s | 173 | #628 | — |
The Story of Thurman
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1920, Thurman is a name steeped in history. Boys named Thurman are most likely born between 1910 and 1930.
How rare is Thurman?
Only about 1 in every 720,000 babies born in 2024 was named Thurman — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1880, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 3,204 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Thurman by the numbers
- Would fill 341 school buses
- Meeting one Thurman per day would take 44.9 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(145 years, 1880–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | #13994 |
| 2023 | 11 | #7678 |
| 2022 | 5 | #14114 |
| 2021 | 8 | #9602 |
| 2020 | 9 | #8650 |
| 2019 | 9 | #8811 |
| 2018 | 9 | #8750 |
| 2017 | 7 | #10660 |
| 2016 | 18 | #5291 |
| 2015 | 11 | #7452 |
| 2014 | 7 | #10605 |
| 2013 | 8 | #9573 |
| 2012 | 9 | #8793 |
| 2011 | 10 | #8005 |
| 2010 | 13 | #6663 |
| 2009 | 10 | #8246 |
| 2008 | 17 | #5463 |
| 2007 | 15 | #5877 |
| 2006 | 12 | #6869 |
| 2005 | 19 | #4617 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Thurman as a Girl's Name
While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Thurman has also been given to 5 girls in the U.S. since 1928.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Thurman a boy's or girl's name?
When was Thurman most popular?
How popular is the name Thurman?
Can Thurman be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1880–2024