Thelonious
Of Greek origin, meaning "longing for high birth".
Name Census estimates that about 444 living Americans carry the first name Thelonious. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Thelonious today is around 20 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Thelonious births was 2017 (23 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Thelonious. 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.
People living today
444
~ 1 in 771,969 Americans
Peak year
2017
23 babies that year
Average age
20
years old
2024 SSA rank
#5,847
Tracked since 1960
Popularity
Thelonious: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Thelonious from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 170 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Thelonious remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Thelonious 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 Thelonious during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Thelonious' live
Origin
Meaning and history of Thelonious
The name Thelonious is a unique and relatively modern name with its origins shrouded in mystery. It is believed to be a coined name, created from a blend of existing words or names, but its precise derivation is unclear.
One theory suggests that Thelonious may have been inspired by the Greek word "thelein," meaning "to wish" or "to desire." This potential connection could imply a meaning related to aspiration or longing. However, there is no definitive evidence to support this proposed etymology.
Another possibility is that Thelonious was derived from the name Thelonious Sphere Monk, a legendary American jazz pianist and composer born in 1917. His unique first name may have been an original creation, perhaps inspired by his family's artistic leanings or his own musical aspirations.
While the name Thelonious does not appear in any ancient texts or historical records, its modern usage can be traced back to the mid-20th century. The earliest recorded example of the name is Thelonious Sphere Monk himself, who became a pioneering figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz.
In addition to Thelonious Monk, several other notable individuals have borne this distinctive name throughout history. One such person is Thelonious Martin, an American actor and filmmaker born in 1937, best known for his roles in classic films like "Cooley High" and "Car Wash."
Another Thelonious of note is Thelonious Bernard, an American musician and composer born in 1929, who played a significant role in the free jazz movement of the 1960s and 1970s.
Thelonious Cornelius Chase, born in 1916, was an American actor and comedian who appeared in films such as "The Reivers" and "Diamonds Are Forever."
Lastly, Thelonious Rose, born in 1935, was an American basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for teams like the Philadelphia Warriors and the St. Louis Hawks.
While the name Thelonious remains relatively uncommon, these notable individuals have contributed to its recognition and continued use, particularly in artistic and cultural circles influenced by the legacy of Thelonious Monk and the Jazz Age.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Thelonious
People
Thelonious + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Thelonious 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
Thelonious: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Thelonious?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 444 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Thelonious 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 771,969 US residents.
Is Thelonious a common name?
We classify Thelonious as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 455 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Thelonious most popular?
The single biggest year for Thelonious was 2017, when 23 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Thelonious is about 20 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Thelonious a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Thelonious 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.
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.