# Thomas

/ˈtɑməs/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/thomas
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. given name

noun · CEFR A1

a common first name for a man.

For teachers: a masculine given name of Aramaic origin, meaning 'twin', which has remained consistently popular in English-speaking countries since the Middle Ages.

- My brother Thomas is starting university in London this September.
- Thomas was the most popular name for boys in that region for several decades, leading to a high frequency of the name in historical records.

### 2. surname

noun · CEFR A1

a common family name or last name.

For teachers: a common patronymic surname found throughout the English-speaking world.

- The new doctor's name is Dr. Thomas, and her office is on the third floor.
- The research paper was co-authored by Professor Thomas, who has published extensively on the subject of linguistics.

### 3. biblical figure

noun · CEFR B2

one of the twelve followers of Jesus, known for wanting proof before believing something.

For teachers: one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, traditionally characterised by his initial refusal to believe the resurrection without physical evidence.

- In the Bible story, Thomas had to touch the wounds of Jesus to believe he was alive.
- The character of Thomas serves as a narrative foil to the other apostles, representing the human need for empirical evidence in the face of the supernatural.

Usage: Often used in the idiomatic phrase 'a doubting Thomas' to describe a person who refuses to believe something without direct proof.

## Examples

- My friend Thomas lives in London.
- Thomas was promoted to senior manager after working for the firm for five years.
- The historical records indicate that Thomas was among the most popular names for boys in the nineteenth century, appearing frequently in both urban and rural census data.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.