UK boy's name
Thorne
A masculine name derived from the Old English word "thorn", meaning a thorny shrub or plant.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Thorne is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Thorne popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 4 births.
This profile covers 14 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2001 to 2022. 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 14 living people in the UK are called Thorne. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Thorne ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2001, when 4 boys were registered as Thorne.
- • About 14 living people in the UK are estimated to have Thorne as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4789
2022
Births in 2022
3
Latest year
Peak year
2001
4 births
Estimated living
14
2026
Meaning
What does Thorne mean?
The name Thorne has its origins in the Old English language, dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period in Britain. It is derived from the Old English word "þorn," which means "thorn" or "prickly bush." This name was likely given to individuals who lived near a thorny thicket or bush.
The earliest recorded use of the name Thorne can be traced back to the 11th century. In the Domesday Book, a survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, there are several references to places named "Thorne" or "Thornhill," indicating the presence of people bearing this name.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Thorne was Robert de Thorne, a 13th-century English cleric and chronicler. He was a monk at the Abbey of St. Albans and is best known for his chronicle, which covers the period from the reign of King Stephen to the early years of Edward I.
In the 14th century, William Thorne, an English Benedictine monk and historian, wrote a chronicle of the Abbey of St. Augustine in Canterbury. His work provides valuable insights into the historical events and daily life of the monastery during that time.
Another notable figure with the name Thorne was James Thorne, an English merchant and explorer who lived in the 16th century. He is credited with leading the first English expedition to the West African coast in 1555, paving the way for future trade and exploration in the region.
During the 17th century, Sir George Thorne, an English politician and landowner, played a significant role in the English Civil War. He served as a member of Parliament and supported the Parliamentarian cause against King Charles I.
In the field of literature, Robert Thorne was an English poet and translator who lived in the 16th century. He is best known for his translations of works by Ludovico Ariosto and other Italian writers, which contributed to the popularization of Italian literature in England.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who bore the name Thorne throughout history. The name's origins and its association with thorny bushes or thickets have given it a unique and enduring presence in various cultures and time periods.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Thorne over time
The chart below shows babies named Thorne registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2001 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Thorne, the clearest high point is 2001. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2022, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Thorne by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Thorne 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 | #4789 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4685 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #2986 | 8 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Thorne
- 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
Thorne: questions and answers
How popular is the name Thorne in the UK right now?
In 2022, Thorne was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Thorne most popular?
The peak year on record was 2001, with 4 babies registered as Thorne in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Thorne?
A masculine name derived from the Old English word "thorn", meaning a thorny shrub or plant.
How many people are called Thorne in the UK?
A total of 14 babies have been registered as Thorne across the 4 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.