Tommy
Say it: TOM-ee/ˈtɒmi/
BoyMeans twin, through Thomas5 letters2 syllables
#27
in Ireland (2025)
#28 with spellings combined
178
babies in 2025
#21
best rank (2023)
2,484
babies since 1980
Up 35
10-year rank change
Tommy through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 178 | #28 |
| 2024 | 202 | #24 |
| 2023 | 214 | #21 |
| 2022 | 184 | #30 |
| 2021 | 171 | #36 |
| 2020 | 154 | #37 |
| 2019 | 131 | #54 |
| 2018 | 95 | #73 |
| 2017 | 106 | #68 |
| 2016 | 110 | #66 |
| 2015 | 121 | #63 |
| 2014 | 121 | #69 |
| 2013 | 101 | #78 |
| 2012 | 101 | #80 |
| 2011 | 89 | #88 |
| 2010 | 43 | #160 |
| 2009 | 37 | #166 |
| 2008 | 38 | #169 |
| 2007 | 41 | #149 |
| 2006 | 33 | #157 |
| 2005 | 27 | #165 |
| 2004 | 30 | #146 |
| 2003 | 14 | #207 |
| 2002 | 13 | #212 |
| 2001 | 11 | #215 |
| 2000 | 14 | #183 |
| 1999 | 16 | #177 |
| 1998 | 9 | #215 |
| 1997 | 11 | #224 |
| 1996 | 14 | #192 |
| 1995 | 6 | #261 |
| 1994 | 6 | #247 |
| 1993 | 5 | #275 |
| 1992 | 6 | #251 |
| 1990 | 3 | #323 |
| 1989 | 4 | #278 |
| 1988 | 3 | #319 |
| 1987 | 4 | #272 |
| 1986 | 3 | #317 |
| 1985 | 3 | #304 |
| 1984 | 4 | #274 |
| 1983 | 5 | #258 |
| 1980 | 3 | #321 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Tommy mean?
Twin, through Thomas
English, a pet form of Thomas, from an Aramaic word for twin.
Say it right
TOMee
The story of Tommy
Tommy is a pet form of Thomas, made by adding the familiar ending -y to Tom. Thomas comes through Latin and Greek from an Aramaic nickname meaning “twin”, borne by the apostle Thomas, best remembered for doubting the resurrection. In Britain “Tommy” also became slang for an ordinary soldier, from the stock name Tommy Atkins.
Irish bearers include the Armagh-born folk singer Tommy Makem and the rugby player Tommy Bowe.
Tommy first appears in the CSO records in 1980, and it stayed rare until the 2000s. It rose sharply in the 2010s and reached its best rank in 2023, at number 21, with 214 boys. Northern Ireland tells a similar story, with a best rank of 11th, also in 2023. In 2025 it was number 27 in the CSO’s table. The CSO counts Tommy, Tom and Thomas as separate names.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Tommy (English proper noun)
- Wiktionary: Thomas (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Tommy (given name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland, full name list 1997-2025
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Tommy | 178 | 2,484 |
In Northern Ireland
#14 in 2025 with 84 babies. Best rank #11 (2023); 917 babies since 1999.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.