Tom
Boy name · #2183 in 2025 · Uniqueness 69/100
Tom ranks #2183 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 65 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #2036, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 27,692 boys born in 2025 was named Tom.
Babies named Tom per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Tom first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 399 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1959, when 5,068 boys were named Tom — good for #82 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. 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 Tom against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Tom in class?
Tom scores 69 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Tom will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Tom is most common
Geography matters for names, and Tom is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Toms were NY (10), CA (8), TX (6). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Tom
Statistically, parents drawn to Tom tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Tim, Jim, Ted, Dan, and Dave.
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Tom | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 65 | #2183 |
| 2024 | 48 | #2715 |
| 2023 | 50 | #2614 |
| 2022 | 60 | #2355 |
| 2021 | 64 | #2193 |
| 2020 | 58 | #2323 |
| 2019 | 87 | #1777 |
| 2018 | 66 | #2122 |
| 2017 | 88 | #1746 |
| 2016 | 70 | #2028 |
| 2015 | 70 | #2036 |
| 2014 | 77 | #1884 |
| 2013 | 82 | #1763 |
| 2012 | 83 | #1787 |
| 2011 | 83 | #1755 |
| 2010 | 80 | #1816 |
| 2009 | 99 | #1604 |
| 2008 | 96 | #1620 |
| 2007 | 94 | #1638 |
| 2006 | 109 | #1427 |
| 2005 | 125 | #1257 |
| 2004 | 107 | #1359 |
| 2003 | 132 | #1141 |
| 2002 | 140 | #1076 |
| 2001 | 96 | #1345 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Tom a popular boy name?
Tom ranked #2183 among boys in 2025 with 65 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2036.
When was the name Tom most popular?
Tom peaked in 1959, when 5,068 American boys received the name (ranked #82 that year). Since 1959 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Tom?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 27,692 newborn American boys was named Tom. It scores 69/100 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.