Old English origin
Source-reportedMeaning: “thorn” + “settlement”
From Old English þorn (“thorn”) + tūn (“settlement”).
Sources for this account (1)
- Wiktionary: ThorntonCC-BY-SA-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Loading your next page…
Loading your next page…
A name. A world of connections.
“thorn” + “settlement”
/ˈθɔː(ɹ)ntən/ · English
01 / Meaning & origin
Thornton is a masculine given name documented in English. English Wiktionary traces it to Old English þorn, from the components “thorn” + “settlement”.
Meaning: “thorn” + “settlement”
From Old English þorn (“thorn”) + tūn (“settlement”).
02 / Across borders
Explore published naming statistics and documented language connections around the world.
The name atlas
10
countries in our sources
Select a country to follow Thornton’s connections around the world.
2 countries with published statistics. Language records show cultural connections; they do not measure how common a name is.
Selected country
Statistics + language records
United States, 2025: 10 boys (rank 7679). Documented as a given name in English.
Explore United States4 of 10 countries
03 / By the numbers
Follow the spelling through the years, one published dataset at a time.
1880–2025 Spelling: Thornton
Recorded category boys
Hover to explore a year. Use arrow keys when a chart point has focus.
Source: US Social Security Administration; redistributed by nkrishnaswami · SSA national baby names, 1880–2025 (CC0 redistribution)
Integer application counts retained without rounding.
Per million is unavailable: this source has no matching published total.
| Year | Applications | Rank | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 12 | 526 | observed |
| 1881 | 10 | 563 | observed |
| 1882 | 17 | 437 | observed |
| 1883 | 13 | 497 | observed |
| 1884 | 7 | 764 | observed |
| 1885 | 5 | 936 | observed |
| 1886 | 17 | 431 | observed |
| 1887 | 10 | 583 | observed |
| 1888 | 19 | 430 | observed |
| 1889 | 17 | 446 | observed |
| 1890 | 6 | 884 | observed |
| 1891 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1892 | 11 | 641 | observed |
| 1893 | 12 | 572 | observed |
| 1894 | 11 | 631 | observed |
| 1895 | 12 | 609 | observed |
| 1896 | 8 | 826 | observed |
| 1897 | 6 | 942 | observed |
| 1898 | 9 | 744 | observed |
| 1899 | 17 | 457 | observed |
| 1900 | 11 | 785 | observed |
| 1901 | 9 | 727 | observed |
| 1902 | 8 | 862 | observed |
| 1903 | 10 | 734 | observed |
| 1904 | 10 | 760 | observed |
| 1905 | 7 | 1,002 | observed |
| 1906 | 17 | 568 | observed |
| 1907 | 7 | 1,094 | observed |
| 1908 | 11 | 825 | observed |
| 1909 | 15 | 714 | observed |
| 1910 | 20 | 654 | observed |
| 1911 | 19 | 732 | observed |
| 1912 | 31 | 783 | observed |
| 1913 | 43 | 696 | observed |
| 1914 | 43 | 802 | observed |
| 1915 | 64 | 750 | observed |
| 1916 | 58 | 810 | observed |
| 1917 | 54 | 864 | observed |
| 1918 | 51 | 933 | observed |
| 1919 | 55 | 898 | observed |
| 1920 | 68 | 812 | observed |
| 1921 | 75 | 772 | observed |
| 1922 | 71 | 794 | observed |
| 1923 | 54 | 930 | observed |
| 1924 | 67 | 823 | observed |
| 1925 | 50 | 956 | observed |
| 1926 | 46 | 1,018 | observed |
| 1927 | 41 | 1,112 | observed |
| 1928 | 50 | 963 | observed |
| 1929 | 29 | 1,312 | observed |
| 1930 | 47 | 990 | observed |
| 1931 | 34 | 1,170 | observed |
| 1932 | 46 | 963 | observed |
| 1933 | 27 | 1,281 | observed |
| 1934 | 27 | 1,293 | observed |
| 1935 | 37 | 1,057 | observed |
| 1936 | 27 | 1,271 | observed |
| 1937 | 33 | 1,148 | observed |
| 1938 | 37 | 1,062 | observed |
| 1939 | 37 | 1,052 | observed |
| 1940 | 34 | 1,135 | observed |
| 1941 | 32 | 1,169 | observed |
| 1942 | 44 | 1,007 | observed |
| 1943 | 46 | 986 | observed |
| 1944 | 33 | 1,152 | observed |
| 1945 | 33 | 1,139 | observed |
| 1946 | 37 | 1,145 | observed |
| 1947 | 44 | 1,093 | observed |
| 1948 | 35 | 1,217 | observed |
| 1949 | 32 | 1,275 | observed |
| 1950 | 39 | 1,139 | observed |
| 1951 | 37 | 1,195 | observed |
| 1952 | 36 | 1,227 | observed |
| 1953 | 38 | 1,214 | observed |
| 1954 | 31 | 1,361 | observed |
| 1955 | 22 | 1,646 | observed |
| 1956 | 30 | 1,418 | observed |
| 1957 | 30 | 1,436 | observed |
| 1958 | 24 | 1,593 | observed |
| 1959 | 22 | 1,709 | observed |
| 1960 | 17 | 1,973 | observed |
| 1961 | 22 | 1,731 | observed |
| 1962 | 28 | 1,479 | observed |
| 1963 | 18 | 1,902 | observed |
| 1964 | 28 | 1,487 | observed |
| 1965 | 11 | 2,476 | observed |
| 1966 | 19 | 1,757 | observed |
| 1967 | 20 | 1,758 | observed |
| 1968 | 18 | 1,894 | observed |
| 1969 | 26 | 1,605 | observed |
| 1970 | 12 | 2,739 | observed |
| 1971 | 15 | 2,464 | observed |
| 1972 | 13 | 2,659 | observed |
| 1973 | 17 | 2,311 | observed |
| 1974 | 14 | 2,674 | observed |
| 1975 | 20 | 2,205 | observed |
| 1976 | 13 | 2,946 | observed |
| 1977 | 11 | 3,386 | observed |
| 1978 | 9 | 3,857 | observed |
| 1979 | 12 | 3,357 | observed |
| 1980 | 18 | 2,617 | observed |
| 1981 | 9 | 4,153 | observed |
| 1982 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1983 | 11 | 3,630 | observed |
| 1984 | 9 | 4,215 | observed |
| 1985 | 8 | 4,698 | observed |
| 1986 | 9 | 4,457 | observed |
| 1987 | 16 | 3,072 | observed |
| 1988 | 9 | 4,786 | observed |
| 1989 | 12 | 4,271 | observed |
| 1990 | 16 | 3,607 | observed |
| 1991 | 7 | 6,519 | observed |
| 1992 | 16 | 3,748 | observed |
| 1993 | 14 | 4,227 | observed |
| 1994 | 12 | 4,803 | observed |
| 1995 | 14 | 4,280 | observed |
| 1996 | 16 | 4,022 | observed |
| 1997 | 14 | 4,451 | observed |
| 1998 | 14 | 4,650 | observed |
| 1999 | 10 | 6,042 | observed |
| 2000 | 12 | 5,588 | observed |
| 2001 | 8 | 7,536 | observed |
| 2002 | 6 | 9,392 | observed |
| 2003 | 11 | 6,258 | observed |
| 2004 | 10 | 6,976 | observed |
| 2005 | 9 | 7,640 | observed |
| 2006 | 12 | 6,460 | observed |
| 2007 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 2008 | 7 | 9,871 | observed |
| 2009 | 12 | 6,802 | observed |
| 2010 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 2011 | 9 | 8,079 | observed |
| 2012 | 8 | 8,864 | observed |
| 2013 | 10 | 7,537 | observed |
| 2014 | 11 | 7,048 | observed |
| 2015 | 9 | 8,040 | observed |
| 2016 | 10 | 7,605 | observed |
| 2017 | 13 | 6,338 | observed |
| 2018 | 11 | 7,136 | observed |
| 2019 | 8 | 8,889 | observed |
| 2020 | 8 | 8,739 | observed |
| 2021 | 6 | 10,799 | observed |
| 2022 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 2023 | 5 | 12,239 | observed |
| 2024 | 6 | 10,938 | observed |
| 2025 | 10 | 7,679 | observed |
Statistics count the spelling “Thornton” as recorded by the publisher. When a spelling has several independent origins, the counts are not split between them. Counts measure applications. Gaps are years without a published value, not zeros.
Rates per million are unavailable for this series because no compatible denominator has been imported.
Retrieved 2026-10-15 · CC0-1.0
Read our methodology04 / Through time
People recorded with this given name in Wikidata. Their names may use a different spelling, or include it as a middle or baptismal name.
American playwright and novelist (1897–1975)
English actor
Recorded as a middle or baptismal name
American scientist (1943–2023)
Recorded as a middle or baptismal name
American soldier and conspirator (1844–1865)
Recorded as a middle or baptismal name
A little story to keep
Take the story of Thornton with you. Create a personal name passport with its meaning, roots and connections.
06 / Behind the facts
Review status: Source-reported — no editorial review recorded yet. Last data change 2026-10-15.
SSA national baby names, 1880–2025 (CC0 redistribution)
US Social Security Administration; redistributed by nkrishnaswami · CC0-1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
South Australia — Popular Baby Names, per-year lists including names given once, 1944-2017
Attorney-General's Department, South Australia (via data.sa.gov.au) · CC-BY-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Wiktionary text: CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikidata: CC0. Commons recordings retain their individual file licences. Complete attribution is available in each group above and alongside each chart.
