Thelonious

Latinized variation of German Tillman, “one who plows the earth”

Thelonious Origin and Meaning

The name Thelonious is a boy's name.

One of the coolest of names, thanks to legendary jazz pianist Thelonious Sphere Monk, who inherited this Latin-sounding German name from his father. It has been used very sparingly since the 1960's, with just a sprinkling of baby boys receiving the name each year, though it's one of the unique baby names we predict will get much less unique as more parents embrace its quirky charms.

Monk's middle name Sphere is pretty unique too, a cousin of Cosmos and Cosmo.

• 805 Nameberry 2021