UK boy's name
Thijs
A masculine given name of Dutch origin meaning "the ruler of the people".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2009. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Thijs is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Thijs popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2009 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4527, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 4 births.
This profile covers 7 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2007 to 2009. 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 7 living people in the UK are called Thijs. 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 2010 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Thijs ranked #4527 for boys in England and Wales in 2009, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 4 boys were registered as Thijs.
- • About 7 living people in the UK are estimated to have Thijs as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4527
2009
Births in 2009
3
Latest year
Peak year
2007
4 births
Estimated living
7
2026
Meaning
What does Thijs mean?
The name Thijs originates from the Dutch language and has its roots in the medieval period. It is a variant of the name Matthijs, which is the Dutch form of the biblical name Matthew, derived from the Hebrew name Mattityahu.
The name Thijs can be traced back to the 12th century in the Low Countries, which includes present-day Netherlands, Belgium, and parts of northern France. It was a popular name among the Dutch-speaking population during the Middle Ages.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Thijs can be found in the Dutch epic poem "Van den vos Reinaerde" (Reynard the Fox), written in the 13th century. The name appears in this literary work as a character name.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Thijs. One of the most famous was Thijs Smolders (1530-1597), a Dutch Catholic priest and theologian who played a significant role in the Counter-Reformation in the Low Countries.
Another notable figure was Thijs Schouteren (1753-1813), a Dutch military officer who served in the Netherlands during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. He is particularly known for his role in the Battle of Bergen op Zoom in 1814.
In the world of art, Thijs Maris (1838-1917) was a renowned Dutch painter and etcher, known for his landscapes and cityscapes. He was part of the esteemed Hague School of painters in the 19th century.
Moving into the 20th century, Thijs Wöltgens (1917-1991) was a Dutch cyclist who competed in both track and road cycling events. He won multiple national championships and represented the Netherlands in the 1948 Summer Olympics in London.
Another notable Thijs was Thijs Mulder (1939-2022), a Dutch politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives for the Christian Democratic Appeal party from 1977 to 1994.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Thijs, showcasing its enduring presence in Dutch culture and society across various fields.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Thijs over time
The chart below shows babies named Thijs registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2007 to 2009. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Thijs, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2009, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Thijs by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Thijs 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #4058 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Thijs
- 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
Thijs: questions and answers
How popular is the name Thijs in the UK right now?
In 2009, Thijs was ranked #4527 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Thijs most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 4 babies registered as Thijs in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Thijs?
A masculine given name of Dutch origin meaning "the ruler of the people".
How many people are called Thijs in the UK?
A total of 7 babies have been registered as Thijs across the 2 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.