Thane

At a Glance

Meaning

A minor noble who held land from a king or lord in exchange for military service

Origin

Old English/Scottish (historical title of nobility)

Gender

Primarily used for boys

Pronunciation

THAYNListen

Thane (pronounced THAYN) is an Old English and Scottish title of nobility, used for a minor noble who held land from a king or lord in exchange for military service. You'll sometimes see it said to mean "warrior" or "lord," but that isn't accurate: a thane was a specific rank of minor nobility, and the Old English root, þegn, originally meant "servant" or "attendant."

Meaning & Origin of Thane

Meaning: A minor noble who held land from a king or lord in exchange for military service.

Origin: Old English/Scottish (historical title of nobility).

A common claim: means warrior, lord Actually: Thane wasn't itself a word for 'warrior' — it denoted a specific rank of minor nobility; its Old English root þegn originally meant 'servant/attendant'.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Thane

Popularity of Thane

Thane peaked in the U.S. at #1162 in 1963, when 45 babies were given the name. In 2024 it ranked #2983, with 42 babies, so the yearly count has barely moved even though the rank has slipped.

Names Like Thane

These names have followed a similar path to Thane in U.S. popularity over the years.

• Terence
• Beth
• Jeff
• Indira
• Lya
• Luci

FAQ

What does the name Thane mean?

A minor noble who held land from a king or lord in exchange for military service. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Thane?

Thane is pronounced THAYN (IPA: /θeɪn/).

Is Thane a popular name right now?

Thane peaked at #1162 in 1963 and is ranked #2983 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1916–2024.)

Make Thane Name Art

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