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Name Lineage

    The first name Thomson

    A boy’s name meaning “son of thomas”, “mactavish”.

    Pronounced /ˈtɑm.sən/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    Thomson means “son of thomas”, “mactavish”.

    From Tom + -son, originally meaning "son of Thomas". In some instances of people so named, a calque of Scottish Gaelic MacTamhais (“MacTavish”). Also an anglicisation of the Gaelic name MacTamhais, meaning "son of Thomas". Many with the name MacTavish changed their name to Thomson and Thompson after Culloden. Being derived from Thomas ultimately gives this surname an Aramaic derivation - teoma 'twin'.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    Thomson last appeared in the official list in 2020, given to 5 boys.

    0510 1996200020052010201520202025
    8
    babies named Thomson, 1996–2025
    #3,334
    rank in 2020
    2020
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Thomson with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Thomson at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 5 boys born in the United States were named Thomson, the 13,694th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2016, when 15 were.

    01020 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    245
    babies named Thomson since 1880
    #13,694
    rank in 2025
    2016
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Thomson in other languages

    Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary

    湯姆森 /汤姆森
    Tāngmǔsēn
    Chinese
    Di Tommaso
    Italian, also Tommasi

    Nicknames and spellings

    Other spellings and forms

    • Tomson
    • Thompson
    • Tompson
    • Thomason
    • Thomasson

    Famous people named Thomson

    2 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Armistead Thomson Mason
      American politician (1787-1819)
    • John Stonehouse
      British politician & novelist (1925-1988)

    Questions

    What does the name Thomson mean?
    Thomson means “son of thomas”, “mactavish”.
    How popular is the name Thomson?
    In 2020, 5 boys born in England and Wales were named Thomson, ranking 3,334th.
    Is Thomson a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 245 US babies named Thomson since 1880 were boys.
    When was Thomson most popular?
    2016 in the United States, when 15 babies were named Thomson, its highest rank at 6,028th.
    How do you pronounce Thomson?
    Thomson is /ˈtɑm.sən/, 2 syllables.
    What are other spellings of Thomson?
    Tomson, Thompson, Tompson, Thomason and Thomasson.
    Is Thomson also a surname?
    Yes. Thomson is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.