Tom

A Hebrew name gently fading from the charts.

Boy's name| Also girlsHebrewDeclining Also a pet name
#2822 175in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A diminutive of the male given name Thomas, also used as a formal male given name.

Tom is a boy's and girl's baby name of Hebrew origin, a short form of Thomas, meaning 'twin.' While Thomas has ranked in the U.S. top 20 for well over a century, Tom functions as both a standalone name and an enduring nickname — one of those rare short names that carries enormous cultural weight.

From Tom Sawyer to Tom Hanks to Tom Brady, the name projects an everyman confidence. Simple, strong, and impossible to date.

Compare Tom with another name

Popularity Over Time

Tom was #1365 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #2822, but its charm endures.

01k3k4k5k18801900192019401960198020002024

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Tom
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s278
2010s786
2000s1,097
1990s1,454
1980s1,985
1970s4,864
1960s29,200
1950s23,754
1940s29,884
1930s16,427
1920s11,923
1910s7,623
1900s3,293
1890s3,335
1880s3,786

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(145 years, 18802024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Tom
YearBirthsRank
202446#2822
202350#2647
202260#2375
202164#2218
202058#2345
201987#1787
201866#2142
201788#1762
201670#2044
201570#2051
201477#1903
201382#1779
201283#1798
201183#1768
201080#1828
200999#1616
200896#1632
200794#1648
2006109#1436
2005125#1260

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

Tom as a Girl's Name

While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Tom has also been given to 614 girls in the U.S. since 1883.

Unranked
Current rank
614
Total births
1925
Peak year
Compare Tom as boy vs girl

Frequently Asked

Can Tom be used for both boys and girls?
Yes, Tom is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name, it currently ranks #2822. As a girl's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Tom has two lives

Tom, the baby name
#2822boys
139,689 babies
Currently viewing
Tom, the pet name
#917pet name
129 pets
View pet page →

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (18802024) · Methodology