Thor Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Thor originates from Old Norse, meaning 'thunder'. It has evolved from Þórr in Old Norse to Thor in Modern English. The name is strongly associated with the Norse god of thunder and reflects traits of strength and bravery. There is no biblical relevance. Thor gained popularity in the 19th century, influenced by a renewed interest in Norse mythology. Variants include Thore and Tore, and it is currently perceived positively in modern culture.
The name Thor is most popular in Minnesota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Thor has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, falling for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Thor' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2442nd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2297th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1475th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1094th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1614th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1803rd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1754th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Thor' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Thor"
Pronunciation
/θɔːr/
Origin
Old Norse
Etymology
The name Thor is derived from the Old Norse word 'Þórr', which means 'thunder'. It is associated with the Norse god of thunder, who was a prominent figure in Norse mythology.
Meaning
thunder
Language Evolution
Þórr (Old Norse), Thor (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name Thor has been used since ancient times, particularly in Scandinavia, and gained popularity in the 19th century due to the revival of interest in Norse mythology and culture.
Variants & Derivatives
Thore, Tore, Tor
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, the name Thor is often associated with strength and power, largely due to its depiction in popular culture, including comic books and films, where Thor is portrayed as a heroic figure.
Famous People
Thor Heyerdahl, Thor Bjornsson, Thorstein Veblen
Explore More Thor Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Thor"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Thor"
"Thor" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 2442nd of 7545 | 180 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 2297th of 6773 | 194 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1475th of 7552 | 533 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1094th of 10718 | 900 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1614th of 16616 | 764 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1803rd of 24088 | 1,152 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 1754th of 23106 | 1,087 |
Regional Popularity of "Thor" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
81.94% 1130th/1379 |
- | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
55.37% 1233rd/2227 |
57.49% 1397th/2430 |
- |
33.48% 929th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
35.68% 1048th/2937 |
33.65% 1172nd/3483 |
61.74% 2172nd/3518 |
21.71% 878th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
42.52% 1567th/3685 |
57.01% 2551st/4475 |
53.58% 2783rd/5194 |
26.96% 1703rd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
34.02% 1559th/4582 |
66.98% 3459th/5164 |
36.92% 2700th/7313 |
19.13% 1428th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
40.04% 1595th/3984 |
57.97% 2601st/4487 |
36.07% 2461st/6822 |
21.86% 1372nd/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Thor" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Thor"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Thor" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.