Major
Meaninggreater · Latin
- US rank
- #669
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #244 in 1889
407 babies were named Major in the US in 2025. It has dropped 320 places in five years.
Found on lists
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US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Major you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 4,196 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Major, 407 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Major would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryMajor has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Majors, and counting.
- Best yearIts best year was 1889, when it reached #244.
- Then vs nowMajor is 8.5× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 35,714 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 4,196.
- TrendMajor has slipped 320 places over the last five years and now sits at #669. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- Where it's lovedMajor is most popular in Mississippi, where it ranks #189, followed by Alabama (#301) and South Carolina (#311). It's in the top 1,000 in 24 states.
- MeaningIn Latin, Major means “greater”.
About the name Major
Major is a boy name of Latin origin meaning “greater”. It has 5 letters and 2 syllables, starting with M and ending in “-jor”. US birth records list Major for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1889, when it ranked #244 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #669, with 407 babies.
Origin:Latin names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 347 | 2,886 boys |
| 1890s | 332 | 3,008 boys |
| 1900s | 285 | 3,507 boys |
| 1910s | 181 | 5,532 boys |
| 1920s | 130 | 7,668 boys |
| 1930s | 99 | 10,052 boys |
| 1940s | 81 | 12,366 boys |
| 1950s | 56 | 17,969 boys |
| 1960s | 36 | 27,770 boys |
| 1970s | 35 | 28,944 boys |
| 1980s | 30 | 33,467 boys |
| 1990s | 23 | 43,459 boys |
| 2000s | 43 | 23,010 boys |
| 2010s | 407 | 2,458 boys |
| 2020s | 371 | 2,693 boys |
More Latin boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Theodore · gift of God
- Boy name: Lucas · man from Lucania
- Unisex name: Elias · my God is Yahweh
- Unisex name: Luca · man from Lucania
- Boy name: Sebastian · venerable
- Boy name: Leo · lion
- Boy name: Alexander · defender of men
Questions about the name Major
What does the name Major mean?
Major means “greater” in Latin.
What is the origin of the name Major?
Major has Latin roots in our records. Other Latin names include Oliver, Theodore, Lucas.
Is Major a boy or girl name?
Major is a boy name.
How popular is the name Major?
Major ranked #669 for US boys in 2025, given to 407 babies. Its best year was 1889 (#244).