Thell
A derivative of Theodore meaning "gift of God".
Name Census estimates that about 1 living Americans carry the first name Thell. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Thell today is around 65 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Thell births was 1931 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Thell. 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 Thell is about 65 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Thells were born before 1971.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Thell. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
1
~ 1 in 342,754,338 Americans
Peak year
1931
6 babies that year
Average age
65
years old
1931 SSA rank
#3,721
Tracked since 1924
Popularity
Thell: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Thell from the 1920s through to the 1930s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1930s, 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
Thell 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 Thell 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 Thell
The name Thell has its roots in the ancient Germanic languages, particularly Old Norse and Old English. It is believed to have originated as a diminutive or short form of the name Theodoric, which itself is derived from the Germanic elements "theud" meaning "people" and "ric" meaning "ruler" or "powerful."
The earliest recorded use of the name Thell dates back to the 9th century, where it appears in historical records and manuscripts from the Anglo-Saxon period in Britain. It was a relatively uncommon name during this time, primarily used among the Germanic tribes that settled in England after the Roman withdrawal.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Thell was Thell of Mercia, a minor nobleman who lived in the late 9th century and was recorded as participating in battles against Viking invaders. Another notable bearer of the name was Thell the Scribe, a monk from Wessex who is credited with copying and preserving several important religious texts during the 10th century.
In the Middle Ages, the name Thell saw some use across various regions of Europe, particularly in areas with Germanic cultural influences. One notable figure was Thell von Kärnten, a 12th-century knight from modern-day Austria who fought in the Crusades and is mentioned in several medieval chronicles.
During the Renaissance period, the name Thell experienced a slight resurgence in popularity, albeit still relatively rare. One notable individual was Thell Mercator, a 16th-century German cartographer and philosopher who made significant contributions to the field of mapmaking and geography.
In the 18th century, the name Thell was borne by Thell Thorvaldsen, a renowned Danish sculptor and artist who was known for his neoclassical works. His masterpieces, such as the Christus and the Ceres sculptures, are celebrated worldwide.
Throughout history, the name Thell has remained relatively uncommon, and its usage has primarily been confined to regions with Germanic linguistic and cultural influences. While not a widely popular name, it has been carried by a few notable individuals across various fields, reflecting its deep-rooted historical significance.
People
Thell + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Thell 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
Thell: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Thell?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Thell 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 Thell a common name?
We classify Thell 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 Thell most popular?
The single biggest year for Thell was 1931, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Thell is about 65 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 Thell in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Thell a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Thell 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 Thell still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Thell 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 Thell 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 have Thell as a first name?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the name Thell on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.