Boy · #4,420 in 2026

Thalamus

The thalamus is a large mass of gray matter on the lateral wall of the third ventricle forming the dorsal part of the diencephalon. Nerve fibers project out of the thalamus to the cerebral cortex in all directions, known as the thalamocortical radiations, allowing hub-like exchanges of information.

Current Rank
#4,420
Peak Rank
#3,943 (1975)
Total Babies
15
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1975
First Year
1976
Last Year
1975
Peak Year
#3943
Peak Rank
15
Total Count
2
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Thalamus

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

The thalamus is a large mass of gray matter on the lateral wall of the third ventricle forming the dorsal part of the diencephalon. Nerve fibers project out of the thalamus to the cerebral cortex in all directions, known as the thalamocortical radiations, allowing hub-like exchanges of information.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

The Story of Thalamus

Thalamus first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1975, with 8 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 1975: 8 births, good for #3,943 nationwide. Thalamus last appeared in the published SSA data in 1976, with 7 recorded births — it has not charted nationally since. All told, over 15 Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1970s to the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Where is Thalamus most common?

Predicted country distribution based on naming patterns globally.

  • United States
    35%
  • LK
    28%
  • IR
    15%
  • Argentina
    12%
  • South Africa
    10%

Source: Nationalize.io . Probabilities are global naming-pattern estimates, not strict counts.

Names that sound like Thalamus

Phonetically similar names — useful when Thalamus is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Calamus
  • Thelema
  • Thallus
  • Thallous
  • Callowness
  • Felonous
  • Hallowmas
  • Sallowness
  • Thelma
  • Thymus
  • Thelonius
  • Kalmus

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Thalamus

What does the name Thalamus mean?
The thalamus is a large mass of gray matter on the lateral wall of the third ventricle forming the dorsal part of the diencephalon. Nerve fibers project out of the thalamus to the cerebral cortex in all directions, known as the thalamocortical radiations, allowing hub-like exchanges of information.
How popular is Thalamus in 2026?
In 2026, Thalamus ranks #4,420 among boys' names in the U.S., with 7 babies given the name that year.
When was Thalamus most popular?
Thalamus reached its peak popularity in 1975, ranking #3,943 that year with 8 babies given the name.
Is Thalamus a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Thalamus is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Thalamus?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Thalamus include Regniald, Demetres, Deana. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Thalamus

Thalamus is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1975 and has accumulated 15 births in the dataset. Thalamus's peak popularity came in 1975 when it ranked #3,943. Use the chart and map above to compare Thalamus's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.