UK boy's name
Thomson
A masculine given name derived from the surname meaning "son of Thomas".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Thomson is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Thomson popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3334, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2020, with 5 births.
This profile covers 8 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2005 to 2020. 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.
Thomson is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 8 living people in the UK are called Thomson. 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 2021 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Thomson ranked #3334 for boys in England and Wales in 2020, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2020, when 5 boys were registered as Thomson.
- • About 8 living people in the UK are estimated to have Thomson as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3334
2020
Births in 2020
5
Latest year
Peak year
2020
5 births
Estimated living
8
2026
Meaning
What does Thomson mean?
The name Thomson originates from the medieval English language and is derived from the name Thomas, which itself has Hebrew origins meaning "twin." The name Thomas was popular in medieval Britain and across Europe, and the variant spelling Thomson emerged in northern England and Scotland in the 13th century.
Thomson was originally an English patronymic surname, meaning "son of Thomas." Over time, it transitioned into being used as a masculine given name in its own right. The earliest recorded instances of Thomson as a first name date back to the late 15th century in England and Scotland.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Thomson Trumbull, an English colonist who settled in Connecticut in the 1630s. He served as the Governor of Connecticut from 1769 to 1784.
In the 18th century, James Thomson (1700-1748) was a renowned Scottish poet and playwright, best known for his influential work "The Seasons." His poetry had a significant impact on the Romantic movement in literature.
Another notable figure was Sir Joseph John Thomson (1856-1940), an English physicist and Nobel laureate. He is credited with the discovery of the electron and helped establish the field of subatomic particle research.
In the 20th century, Thomson Burtchaell (1911-1985) was an American theologian and author who wrote extensively on the Catholic Church's teachings on marriage and family life.
Samuel Thomson (1769-1843) was an American botanist and herbalist who established the system of alternative medicine known as Thomsonian practice, which relied heavily on the use of herbs and natural remedies.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Thomson, highlighting its enduring presence across various fields and cultures.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Thomson over time
The chart below shows babies named Thomson registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2005 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Thomson, the clearest high point is 2020. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2020, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Thomson by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Thomson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #3334 | 5 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3849 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Thomson
- 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
Thomson: questions and answers
How popular is the name Thomson in the UK right now?
In 2020, Thomson was ranked #3334 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Thomson most popular?
The peak year on record was 2020, with 5 babies registered as Thomson in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Thomson?
A masculine given name derived from the surname meaning "son of Thomas".
How many people are called Thomson in the UK?
A total of 8 babies have been registered as Thomson 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.