Thadus
A Latinized name of uncertain meaning, possibly derived from the Greek word "thauma" meaning "wonder" or "marvel".
Name Census estimates that about 1 living Americans carry the first name Thadus. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Thadus today is around 113 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Thadus births was 1918 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Thadus. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Thadus is about 113 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Thadus' were born before 1923.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Thadus. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
1
~ 1 in 342,754,338 Americans
Peak year
1918
6 babies that year
Average age
113
years old
1935 SSA rank
#4,095
Tracked since 1918
Popularity
Thadus: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Thadus from the 1910s through to the 1930s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 6 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Thadus by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Thadus during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Thadus
The name Thadus is an ancient one, with its origins traced back to the Indo-European linguistic family. It is believed to have derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *dh?tu-, meaning "established" or "set in place." The earliest known use of the name can be found in ancient Sanskrit texts, where it appeared as Thaddus, referring to a prominent sage or wise man.
Over the centuries, the name underwent various transformations and adaptations as it spread across different cultures and regions. In ancient Greece, it took the form of Thadeos, and was associated with the concept of wisdom and learning. One notable bearer of this name was Thadeos of Miletus, a renowned philosopher and mathematician who lived in the 5th century BCE.
As the name made its way to the Roman Empire, it evolved into the Latin form Thadius. One of the earliest recorded instances of this name can be found in the writings of the Roman historian Tacitus, who mentioned a Thadius Claudius, a military commander in the 1st century CE.
In the Early Middle Ages, the name gained popularity among European Christian communities, often appearing as Thadus or Thadeus. One of the most famous bearers of this name was Saint Thadeus, one of the Seventy Disciples of Christ, who is celebrated in many Christian traditions for his missionary work in Mesopotamia and Persia.
During the Renaissance period, the name Thadus found its way into the artistic and scholarly circles of Italy. One notable figure was Thadus Ugolino, a renowned painter and fresco artist who lived in Florence in the 15th century, renowned for his intricate religious artworks adorning various churches and cathedrals.
In the 16th century, the name made an appearance in England, where it was sometimes spelled as Thadeus or Thaddeus. One notable bearer was Sir Thadeus Cromwell, a member of the English gentry and a distant relative of Oliver Cromwell, who played a role in the English Civil War.
As the name spread across different cultures and regions, its spelling and pronunciation evolved, but its connection to wisdom, learning, and often religious or scholarly pursuits remained a common thread throughout its long history.
People
Thadus + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Thadus as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Thadus: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Thadus?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Thadus going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 342,754,338 US residents.
Is Thadus a common name?
We classify Thadus as "Very Rare". It ranks above 3.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 11 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Thadus most popular?
The single biggest year for Thadus was 1918, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Thadus is about 113 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Thadus in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Thadus a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Thadus in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Thadus still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Thadus in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Thadus can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people share the name Thadus?
Want to know how many people share the name Thadus? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.