Thompson
Boy name · #2335 in 2025 · Uniqueness 68/100
Thompson ranks #2335 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 59 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #2328, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 30,508 boys born in 2025 was named Thompson.
Babies named Thompson per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 143-year story
Thompson first appears in the Social Security records in 1882, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2018, when 76 boys were named Thompson — good for #1937 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Thompson against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Thompson in class?
Thompson scores 68 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. Rare names trade instant recognition for memorability; Thompson sits firmly on that end of the spectrum.
Where Thompson is most common
Geography matters for names, and Thompson is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Thompsons were TX (7), GA (5), OH (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Thompson
Statistically, parents drawn to Thompson tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Morrison, Hanson, Ellison, Sampson, and Pearson.
MorrisonHansonEllisonSampsonPearsonTreysonLarsonTayson
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Thompson | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 59 | #2332 |
| 2024 | 43 | #2915 |
| 2023 | 34 | #3416 |
| 2022 | 51 | #2616 |
| 2021 | 61 | #2277 |
| 2020 | 51 | #2505 |
| 2019 | 61 | #2265 |
| 2018 | 76 | #1937 |
| 2017 | 55 | #2345 |
| 2016 | 51 | #2477 |
| 2015 | 56 | #2328 |
| 2014 | 37 | #3038 |
| 2013 | 33 | #3265 |
| 2012 | 36 | #3115 |
| 2011 | 26 | #3885 |
| 2010 | 38 | #3014 |
| 2009 | 32 | #3399 |
| 2008 | 31 | #3486 |
| 2007 | 37 | #3090 |
| 2006 | 27 | #3686 |
| 2005 | 29 | #3389 |
| 2004 | 38 | #2741 |
| 2003 | 31 | #3044 |
| 2002 | 13 | #5395 |
| 2001 | 23 | #3617 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Thompson a popular boy name?
Thompson ranked #2335 among boys in 2025 with 59 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2328.
When was the name Thompson most popular?
Thompson peaked in 2018, when 76 American boys received the name (ranked #1937 that year). Since 2018 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Thompson?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 30,508 newborn American boys was named Thompson. It scores 68/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.