Thornton
Boy nameThornton has been given to 3,132 babies in the U.S. since 1880. It peaked in 1921.
Meaning & origin /ˈθɔː(ɹ)ntən/
From Old English þorn (“thorn”) + tūn (“settlement”).
Origin: surnames
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Popularity over time births per year, 1880–2025
Total babies
3,132
Peak year
1921 (75 babies)
Rank in 2025
Below top 1000
First recorded
1880
10-year trend
▲ +11%
Gender split
All boys
Rank through the decades
Thornton's rank among U.S. boy names at 25-year milestones.
| Year | Boys rank |
|---|---|
| 1900 | #831 |
| 1925 | #971 |
— means outside the top 1000 that year.
Names with a similar vibe
Same primary gender, peaked around the same years, and roughly as common as Thornton.
FAQ
How popular is the name Thornton?
Thornton has been given to 3,132 babies in the U.S. since 1880. It ranked below the top 1000 in 2025.
When did the name Thornton peak?
Thornton peaked in 1921, when 75 babies were given the name.
Is Thornton a girl or boy name?
Thornton is primarily a boy name (100% of babies named Thornton are boys).
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