How Many People Are Named Tom?
Complete statistics for the name Tom: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Tom is a classic shortform of Thomas, rooted in the Aramaic word for twin. Today around 67,501 people named Tom are living in the US, making it genuinely rare at 1 in 4,889 Americans. What's striking is just how much this name belongs to an older generation, with the numbers telling that story loud and clear.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life path number 3 is traditionally associated with creativity, self-expression, and a natural ability to connect with others. People linked to the number 3 are seen as optimistic and communicative, with a gift for bringing energy and joy into the lives around them.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 81All 139,904 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1959Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Tom Through the Generations
Tom peaked in 1959 with 5,080 births in a single year, and that era basically defines who carries the name today. Of the 67,501 living Toms in the US, a remarkable 88% are over 60, that's around 123,490 people in that bracket alone. Only 2,534 are under 30, which shows how completely this name fell out of fashion with younger parents. The gap between all-time births of 139,904 and the living count of 67,501 is significant too, roughly half of everyone ever named Tom in the US has already passed, which lines up with the average age of 81. Tom spent just 1 year in the US top 10, so it was never a true dominant name, more of a steady classic that had its moment and quietly faded. The trend is firmly declining, and with so few young Toms coming through, that's unlikely to reverse anytime soon.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Tom
Tom is a masculine given name, often used as a diminutive of Thomas. In Germanic countries and Scandinavia, "Tom" is in use as a formal given name.…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Tom's Aramaic roots
📄 About the Name Tom
How Many People Have the Name Tom?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 10,364 people in the United States currently share the name Tom. That works out to roughly 1 in every 31,981 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.
Is Tom a Common or Rare Name?
Tom is classified as Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Tom Mean?
Tom means "twin" and comes from Aramaic origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 3.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Tom in SSA data, approximately 100% are male and 0% are female.
When Was Tom Most Popular?
The name Tom reached peak popularity in 1959, with 5,080 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Tom?
Approximately 10,364 people named Tom live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 10,364. That works out to roughly 1 in 31,981 Americans.
Is Tom a rare name?
Tom is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 31,981 Americans has this name.
What does the name Tom mean?
Tom means "twin" and comes from Aramaic origins.
Is Tom more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 100% of people named Tom are male and 0% are female.
When was Tom most popular?
Tom peaked in 1959 with 5,080 births that year. Current trend: Declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.