Home β€Ί Baby Names Directory β€Ί Thaddeus

Thaddeus

β™‚ Boy

Pronounced THAD-ee-us /ˈθæd.i.Ι™s/High

Meaning: Courageous heart or gift of God; from the Aramaic Thaddai, possibly meaning heart or courageous, or related to the Hebrew Theodotus meaning gift of GodMedium

In 30 seconds: Thaddeus is an ancient Aramaic name meaning courageous heart or possibly gift of God, borne by one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, a regal three-syllable name with the beloved Thad nickname that is quietly returning to fashion.
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Origin MediumAramaic, Hebrew, Greek
MeaningCourageous heart or gift of God; from the Aramaic Thaddai, possibly meaning heart or courageous, or related to the Hebrew Theodotus meaning gift of God
U.S. rank (2025)#798 β†— Rising
2025 U.S. births314 boys (0.02% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2016
Total births (all-time)β‰ˆ 26,053

Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data

peak 201618802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Thaddeus is the Greek and Latin rendering of the Aramaic Thaddai, whose meaning is uncertain but is most commonly interpreted as courageous heart or simply heart. It may also be linked to the Greek Theodotus (gift of God). Thaddeus was one of the twelve apostles, also called Lebbaeus in some manuscript traditions.

Thaddeus was used throughout Catholic Europe as an apostle's name, particularly popular in Poland (Tadeusz) and central Europe. In the United States it had a Victorian heyday and is now experiencing a quiet revival as a grand, unusual apostle name alongside Bartholomew and Cornelius.

Did you know? In the list of the twelve apostles, Thaddeus appears in Matthew and Mark while Judas son of James appears in Luke and John for the same position, leading many scholars to believe these are the same person. Early traditions hold that this apostle was also known as Judas Thaddaeus to distinguish him from Judas Iscariot.
Overall data confidence 82%
Behind the Name β€” Thaddeus β€” Aramaic and Greek etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration β€” popularity data

Variations

ThadTadTadeusz

Nicknames

ThadTad

Famous Bearers

  • β˜…Thaddeus Stevens (1792–1868)
    American Radical Republican congressman from Pennsylvania and leading abolitionist, depicted by Tommy Lee Jones in the film Lincoln (2012).

If you like Thaddeus…

Bartholomewβ€” same rare apostle name category with a grand three-plus-syllable feel
Corneliusβ€” shares the vintage Latin three-syllable grandeur with an uncommon profile
Augustineβ€” same category of imposing classical name with Thad-level nickname potential
Ignatiusβ€” fellow rare Christian saint name with strong historical pedigree

Frequently Asked

What does the name Thaddeus mean?

Thaddeus most likely means courageous heart or heart, from the Aramaic Thaddai.

How do you pronounce Thaddeus?

It is said THAD-ee-us, three syllables with stress on the first.

Is Thaddeus a biblical name?

Yes, Thaddeus was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, mentioned in Matthew and Mark.

Is Thaddeus coming back in style?

Yes, Thaddeus is experiencing a quiet revival as parents seek grand, unusual apostle names with the friendly Thad nickname.