UK boy's name
Thaine
A masculine name of Celtic origin derived from a surname meaning "dweller by the brushwood".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2015. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Thaine is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Thaine popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2015 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4747, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 3 births.
This profile covers 9 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2008 to 2015. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 9 living people in the UK are called Thaine. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2016 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Thaine ranked #4747 for boys in England and Wales in 2015, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2008, when 3 boys were registered as Thaine.
- • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Thaine as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4747
2015
Births in 2015
3
Latest year
Peak year
2008
3 births
Estimated living
9
2026
Meaning
What does Thaine mean?
The name Thaine is an Old English name derived from the Old English word "thegn," which means "servant" or "attendant." It was originally a title given to a class of landowners who held their land in exchange for military service. The name Thaine would have been used as a surname for someone who held the title of thegn.
In the early Middle Ages, the name Thaine was primarily found in England and parts of Scotland. It was a common name among the Anglo-Saxon nobility and landowners. Over time, the name evolved into various spellings, such as Thain, Thayne, and Thane.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Thaine can be found in the epic poem "Beowulf," which dates back to around the 8th or 9th century. In the poem, the character Thane is mentioned as one of the warriors who accompanied the hero Beowulf on his quest to slay the monster Grendel.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Thaine. One of the earliest was Thaine le Rede, an English nobleman who lived in the late 12th century and was a prominent landowner in Hertfordshire.
Another notable figure was Sir Thaine Bassingbourne, an English knight who fought alongside King Edward III in the Hundred Years' War during the 14th century. He was renowned for his bravery and military prowess.
In the 16th century, there was Thaine Brisset, an English explorer and navigator who accompanied Sir Francis Drake on his famous circumnavigation of the globe between 1577 and 1580.
During the American Revolutionary War, Thaine Mayhew served as a captain in the Continental Army and fought in several major battles, including the Battle of Monmouth in 1778.
In the 19th century, Thaine Ellington was a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Royal Albert Hall in London, which was completed in 1871.
While the name Thaine has fallen out of common usage in recent times, it remains a fascinating part of English history and culture, reflecting the traditions and values of the Anglo-Saxon nobility and landowners who once bore this name with pride.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Thaine over time
The chart below shows babies named Thaine registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2008 to 2015. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Thaine, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2015, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Thaine by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Thaine was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4716 | 6 | 2 |
| 2000s | #4432 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Thaine
- Thomas 160,894
- Tyler 42,147
- Theo 40,594
- Toby 32,482
- Theodore 30,211
- Tommy 25,300
- Teddy 20,781
- Taylor 14,354
- Tobias 13,102
- Tom 9,822
- Tristan 9,171
- Timothy 6,200
FAQ
Thaine: questions and answers
How popular is the name Thaine in the UK right now?
In 2015, Thaine was ranked #4747 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Thaine most popular?
The peak year on record was 2008, with 3 babies registered as Thaine in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Thaine?
A masculine name of Celtic origin derived from a surname meaning "dweller by the brushwood".
How many people are called Thaine in the UK?
A total of 9 babies have been registered as Thaine across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.