Thom

Thom is a masculine given name, commonly used as a shortened form of Thomas. It may also be used as a standalone name in some families. The given name Thomas ultimately derives from the Aramaic name Te’oma, through the Greek form Thomas, and is often interpreted as meaning “twin.” The shortened form Thom is one of several variants that have appeared in English, alongside Tom and Tommy, and it is used in various English-speaking countries.

In usage, Thom is primarily a personal name rather than a title or place. It is found across different sectors and professions, and some individuals adopt Thom as their professional brand or public name. The spelling Thom can convey a distinctive or contemporary feel compared to Tom or Thomas.

Notable people named Thom include Thom Yorke (born 1968), the English musician and lead singer of Radiohead; Thom Mayne (born 1944), American architect and Pritzker Prize laureate; Thom Browne (born 1965), American fashion designer and founder of the label Thom Browne; and Thom Tillis (born 1966), American politician serving as a U.S. senator from North Carolina. These figures illustrate the name’s presence in music, architecture, fashion, and politics.

See also pages for Thomas and Tom, which cover related given-name variants and their broader historical and cultural contexts.