Tho first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Tho has been for the last 13 years (from 1980 to 1992) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Tho

A Vietnamese given name meaning "grandchild" or "descendant".

Popularity of Tho by gender

Based on the last 13 years of data, Tho is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 88% of people named Tho being male.

For the most recent data in 1992, there were 9 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Tho.

Year Male Count Female Count
1992 9 0
1991 5 0
1988 5 0
1986 5 0
1985 9 0
1984 0 6
1982 7 0
1980 6 0

The history of the first name Tho

The name Tho has its origins in the ancient Vietnamese language, dating back to the 3rd century AD. It is derived from the Vietnamese word "thọ," which means "longevity" or "long life." This name was commonly given to children in Vietnam as a wish for them to live a long and prosperous life.

One of the earliest documented references to the name Tho 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 several individuals with the name Tho, including a prominent general and military leader during the Lý Dynasty (1009-1225 AD).

In the realm of Vietnamese literature, the name Tho appears in several notable works, such as the epic poem "The Tale of Kieu" by Nguyễn Du (1766-1820). One of the main characters in this literary masterpiece is named Tho, reflecting the cultural significance of the name.

Throughout history, there have been several notable figures who bore the name Tho. One such individual was Tho Truong Nho (1433-1518), a renowned Vietnamese philosopher and scholar during the Lê Dynasty. Another was Tho Xuan Bai (1892-1945), a prominent Vietnamese poet and revolutionary who played a significant role in the country's struggle for independence.

Tho Phuong Nam (1801-1871) was a Vietnamese general and military strategist who led the resistance against the French colonization efforts in the 19th century. His bravery and tactical brilliance earned him a place in Vietnamese history as a national hero.

Another notable figure was Tho Van Bai (1921-1998), a renowned Vietnamese artist and calligrapher who helped preserve and promote traditional Vietnamese art forms during the turbulent times of the 20th century.

While the name Tho has its roots in ancient Vietnamese culture, it has also been adopted and used in other parts of the world, particularly in countries with significant Vietnamese diaspora communities.

Data source

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 Tho was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Tho, please contact us.

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"Tho first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on September 1, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/tho-meaning-and-history/.

"Tho first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/tho-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 1 September, 2025

Tho first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/tho-meaning-and-history/.

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