Norse god of thunder; from Old Norse 'Þórr' meaning thunder.
Thor is one of the oldest continuously recorded given names in the Germanic world, rooted in the Proto-Germanic Þunraz, meaning simply "thunder." In Norse mythology, Thor was the red-bearded son of Odin, wielder of the hammer Mjölnir, and the protector of both gods and humanity from the chaos of the frost giants. He was arguably the most widely worshipped deity in the pre-Christian Norse and Germanic pantheon — Thursday ("Thor's day") preserves his name in the English language every week.
Scandinavia has kept Thor in active use without interruption since the Viking Age, where it anchors compound names such as Thorvald, Thorsten, and Thorbjørn. The name arrived in English-speaking consciousness gradually through literature and archaeology, but the 2011 Marvel Cinematic Universe adaptation transformed Thor into a global phenomenon, introducing the name to a generation of parents far outside its Nordic heartland. The fictional portrayal — noble, physically powerful, slowly learning wisdom — drew on genuinely ancient mythological characterizations.
Despite its pop-culture moment, Thor has not inflated to trend-and-crash status. Its sheer brevity and sonic force — one syllable, impossible to shorten — give it a timeless sturdiness. In Norway and Sweden it remains an everyman's name as much as a hero's name, carrying that rare combination of mythic grandeur and everyday practicality.