Major Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Major originates from the Latin word for 'greater' or 'larger'. Its language path includes Latin, Old French, and Middle English. It is associated with strength and authority, with no biblical relevance. Major gained popularity in the 19th century as a given name reflecting military rank.
The name Major is most popular in Mississippi, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Major has been falling for male in MidWest, falling for male in Northeast, too falling for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, too falling for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Major' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 470th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 563rd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 725th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1044th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1527th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1266th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 384th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 9107th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 7783rd out of 9204 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 14385th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Major' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Major"
Pronunciation
/ˈmeɪdʒər/
Origin
Latin
Etymology
The name 'Major' is derived from the Latin word 'major', meaning 'greater' or 'larger'. It was used in Roman times as a term of rank and importance.
Meaning
greater, larger
Language Evolution
Latin: maior, Old French: major, Middle English: major
Historical Usage
The name Major became popular in English-speaking countries as a given name in the 19th century, often associated with military rank.
Variants & Derivatives
Maj, Maje, Majory
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Major is perceived as a strong and authoritative name, often associated with leadership and bravery.
Famous People
Major Owens, Major League Baseball players
Explore More Major Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Major"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Major"
"Major" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 470th of 7545 | 2,648 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 563rd of 6773 | 2,040 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 725th of 7552 | 1,937 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1044th of 10718 | 965 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1527th of 16616 | 829 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1266th of 24088 | 1,967 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 384th of 23106 | 10,061 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 9107th of 9107 | 5 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 7783rd of 9204 | 11 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 14385th of 30306 | 60 |
Regional Popularity of "Major" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
64.62% 915th/1416 |
- |
12.85% 304th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
61.84% 956th/1546 |
64.20% 999th/1556 |
16.53% 389th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
40.28% 897th/2227 |
37.90% 921st/2430 |
19.70% 562nd/2853 |
50.20% 1393rd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
35.55% 1044th/2937 |
38.56% 1343rd/3483 |
30.84% 1085th/3518 |
45.15% 1826th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
57.42% 2116th/3685 |
67.73% 3031st/4475 |
26.47% 1375th/5194 |
41.82% 2642nd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
28.87% 1323rd/4582 |
39.78% 2054th/5164 |
12.65% 925th/7313 |
22.16% 1654th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
9.54% 380th/3984 |
11.46% 514th/4487 |
4.32% 295th/6822 |
10.85% 681st/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Major" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Major"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Major" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.