Therman
German name derived from Theodoric, meaning "ruler of the people".
Name Census estimates that about 760 living Americans carry the first name Therman. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Therman today is around 67 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Therman births was 1919 (49 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Therman. 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 Therman is about 67 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Thermans were born before 1969.
People living today
760
~ 1 in 450,993 Americans
Peak year
1919
49 babies that year
Average age
67
years old
2007 SSA rank
#14,192
Tracked since 1905
Popularity
Therman: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Therman from the 1900s through to the 2000s, spanning 11 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 392 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Therman 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 Therman during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Thermans live
The SSA's state-level files cover 9 states and territories. North Carolina, Texas, Alabama recorded the most babies named Therman, while Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 39 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Therman
The given name Therman has its origins traced back to the ancient Germanic languages. It is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "þeurmaz," which means "strong" or "mighty." The name gained popularity during the Middle Ages, particularly in the regions of modern-day Germany and the Netherlands.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Therman can be found in the Frankish Annals, a historical chronicle from the 9th century. The annals mention a warrior named Therman who fought alongside Charlemagne's forces during the Saxon Wars.
In medieval times, the name Therman was often associated with strength, bravery, and valor. It was commonly given to sons born into noble families or those destined for a life of military service. The name's connotation of power and might made it a popular choice among the ruling classes.
Notable historical figures who bore the name Therman include Therman von Nürnberg (1350-1420), a German knight and military commander who participated in the Hussite Wars. Another prominent figure was Therman van Leiden (1480-1548), a Dutch humanist scholar and educator who played a significant role in the Northern Renaissance.
During the Renaissance period, the name Therman experienced a resurgence in popularity, particularly in the Low Countries and parts of Germany. One notable bearer of the name was Therman Janszoon (1590-1655), a Dutch explorer and navigator who captained several voyages to the East Indies for the Dutch East India Company.
In the 18th century, Therman von Hagen (1705-1776) was a Prussian general who served under Frederick the Great during the Seven Years' War. He was renowned for his tactical skills and leadership on the battlefield.
As we move into the 19th century, Therman Köhler (1819-1892) was a German botanist and explorer who made significant contributions to the study of plant life in the Southern Hemisphere. He is best known for his extensive research on the flora of South Africa and Australia.
While the name Therman has fallen out of widespread use in recent times, it remains a part of historical records, preserving its connection to strength, valor, and the rich cultural heritage of the Germanic peoples.
People
Therman + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Therman 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
Therman: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Therman?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 760 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Therman 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 450,993 US residents.
Is Therman a common name?
We classify Therman as "Very Rare". It ranks above 88.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,885 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Therman most popular?
The single biggest year for Therman was 1919, when 49 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Therman is about 67 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Therman a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Therman 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.