Thorn

♂ Boy

Pronounced THORN /ˈθɔːɹn/High

Meaning: Thorn is an English word-name for the sharp woody spine of a plant, from Old English thorn. The same word names the runic and Old English letter thorn, which wrote the 'th' sound. It reads as an edgy nature name, and its bramble sense is part of the appeal, which we note.Medium

In 30 seconds: A nature name with an edge: Thorn is the sharp spine of a plant, and the name of an old English letter (said 'THORN').

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Origin MediumEnglish

MeaningThorn is an English word-name for the sharp woody spine of a plant, from Old English thorn. The same word names the runic and Old English letter thorn, which wrote the 'th' sound. It reads as an edgy nature name, and its bramble sense is part of the appeal, which we note.

U.S. rank (2024)#13992 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1988

Total births (all-time)≈ 302

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Thorn comes from Old English thorn, the spine of a bramble or hawthorn, and it doubles as the name of the letter that once wrote the 'th' sound in English and Norse runes. As a given name it joins the modern crop of sharp nature words — Ash, Flint, Briar — chosen for edge as much as for greenery, which we note (said 'THORN').

It appears only rarely for boys in the U.S. Rare, nature-styled, and sharp.

Did you know? Thorn is also a letter — the Old English rune-derived character that wrote the 'th' sound, and the reason old signs read 'Ye Olde' when they really meant 'The' (said 'THORN').

Overall data confidence 50%

References — Thorn — Old English thorn (plant spine); also the letter thorn; modern nature word-name

Variations

ThorneTorn

Nicknames

ThorT

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Thorn…

Briar— a same thorny-nature pick

Asher— a familiar tree-echoing choice

Flint— a matching sharp-edged word-name

Fern— the same nature feel

Vern— shares Thorn's English roots

Explore names like Thorn

By themeword-name short nature edgy

By meaningEarth / Nature

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Thorn mean?

Thorn is an English word-name for the sharp spine of a plant, from Old English thorn; it also names the old letter that wrote the 'th' sound.

How do you pronounce Thorn?

It's said THORN /ˈθɔːɹn/ — one syllable.

Is Thorn a boy or girl name?

Here Thorn is used as a boy's name; like most nature word-names it can work either way.

How popular is Thorn?

Thorn is a very rare name for boys in the U.S.