UK boy's name
Thorben
A masculine Germanic name derived from Thor, the Norse god of thunder.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2018. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Thorben is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Thorben popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3959, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 4 births.
This profile covers 11 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2013 to 2018. 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 11 living people in the UK are called Thorben. 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 2019 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Thorben ranked #3959 for boys in England and Wales in 2018, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2016, when 4 boys were registered as Thorben.
- • About 11 living people in the UK are estimated to have Thorben as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3959
2018
Births in 2018
4
Latest year
Peak year
2016
4 births
Estimated living
11
2026
Meaning
What does Thorben mean?
The name Thorben is of Old Norse origin, tracing its roots back to the Viking Age. It is a compound name formed by combining the Old Norse elements "Þórr" and "björn." The first part, "Þórr," refers to the mighty god of thunder and lightning in Norse mythology, while "björn" means "bear." Together, the name Thorben can be interpreted as "Thor's bear" or "the bear dedicated to Thor."
This name gained prominence in the regions where the Norse settlers and Vikings established their presence, particularly in Scandinavia, parts of northern Germany, and other areas influenced by Norse culture. Its earliest recorded use dates back to the 9th or 10th century, though the exact origins remain uncertain.
Throughout history, the name Thorben has been associated with various notable figures. One of the earliest recorded examples is Thorben Olafsson, a Viking chieftain and warrior who lived in the late 10th century and played a significant role in the Christianization of Norway.
In the 12th century, Thorben Ketilsson was a prominent Icelandic lawspeaker and chieftain known for his expertise in Norse law and his role in preserving the Icelandic Commonwealth.
During the Middle Ages, Thorben Sveinsson, a Norwegian nobleman and landowner, was mentioned in several historical records for his involvement in regional conflicts and land disputes.
In the 15th century, Thorben Eriksen, a Danish sailor and explorer, gained recognition for his voyages to Greenland and the Arctic regions, contributing to the expansion of geographical knowledge at the time.
More recently, Thorben Albrecht, a German mathematician born in 1887, made significant contributions to the fields of topology and set theory, leaving a lasting impact on modern mathematics.
These are just a few examples of the historical figures who bore the name Thorben. While its usage has been most prominent in Scandinavian and Germanic regions, the name has also found its way into other cultures and languages over time, reflecting the far-reaching influence of Norse heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Thorben over time
The chart below shows babies named Thorben registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2013 to 2018. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Thorben, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2018, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Thorben by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Thorben 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 | #4222 | 11 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Thorben
- 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
Thorben: questions and answers
How popular is the name Thorben in the UK right now?
In 2018, Thorben was ranked #3959 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Thorben most popular?
The peak year on record was 2016, with 4 babies registered as Thorben in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Thorben?
A masculine Germanic name derived from Thor, the Norse god of thunder.
How many people are called Thorben in the UK?
A total of 11 babies have been registered as Thorben 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.