Find out how popular the first name Thao has been for the last 43 years (from 1975 to 2017) and learn more about the meaning and history.
A feminine Vietnamese name meaning "precious gem" or "jadeite".
Based on the last 43 years of data, Thao is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 84% of people named Thao being female.
For the most recent data in 2017, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Thao.
Year | Male Count | Female Count |
---|---|---|
2017 | 0 | 5 |
2015 | 0 | 5 |
2014 | 0 | 7 |
2013 | 0 | 7 |
2012 | 0 | 5 |
2011 | 0 | 9 |
2010 | 0 | 10 |
2009 | 0 | 7 |
2008 | 0 | 12 |
2007 | 0 | 13 |
2006 | 0 | 8 |
2005 | 0 | 10 |
2004 | 0 | 11 |
2003 | 0 | 16 |
2002 | 0 | 16 |
2001 | 0 | 18 |
2000 | 0 | 20 |
1999 | 5 | 29 |
1998 | 5 | 27 |
1997 | 0 | 24 |
1996 | 5 | 37 |
1995 | 5 | 29 |
1994 | 9 | 45 |
1993 | 9 | 44 |
1992 | 13 | 48 |
1991 | 16 | 41 |
1990 | 11 | 51 |
1989 | 16 | 38 |
1988 | 9 | 31 |
1987 | 8 | 55 |
1986 | 9 | 45 |
1985 | 7 | 50 |
1984 | 15 | 58 |
1983 | 12 | 47 |
1982 | 13 | 35 |
1981 | 6 | 39 |
1980 | 13 | 26 |
1979 | 6 | 22 |
1978 | 0 | 14 |
1977 | 0 | 10 |
1976 | 0 | 10 |
1975 | 0 | 6 |
The name Thao has its roots in the Vietnamese language and culture. It is believed to have originated during the medieval period in Vietnam, possibly as early as the 12th century.
Thao is derived from the Vietnamese word "thảo," which means "grass" or "plant." In ancient Vietnamese culture, names were often inspired by natural elements, reflecting the close connection between the people and their environment.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Thao can be found in the "Đại Việt Sử Ký Toàn Thư" (Complete Annals of Đại Việt), a historical text compiled in the 15th century. This text mentions a woman named Thao who lived during the Lý Dynasty (1009–1225).
In the 13th century, a famous Vietnamese general named Trần Hưng Đạo (1228–1300) had a wife named Phạm Thị Thao. She played a significant role in supporting her husband's military campaigns against the Mongol invasions.
Another notable figure named Thao was Nguyễn Thị Thao (1839–1917), a Vietnamese patriot and leader of the Đồng Khánh Scholars' Revolt against French colonial rule in the late 19th century.
In the 20th century, Võ Thị Thao (1907–1985) was a prominent Vietnamese writer and poet, known for her works that explored the themes of love, nature, and national identity.
More recently, Lê Thị Thao (born 1984) is a Vietnamese badminton player who has won multiple international titles, including the Southeast Asian Games and the Asian Games.
While the name Thao has its roots in Vietnam, it has also been adopted in other Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand and Laos, where it may have slightly different meanings or variations in spelling.
The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.
The history and meaning of the name Thao was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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"Thao first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on August 20, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/thao-meaning-and-history/.
"Thao first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/thao-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 20 August, 2025
Thao first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/thao-meaning-and-history/.
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