Commodore Boy

Popularity: · Trend: → Stable

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KOM-uh-dor //ˈkɒməˌdɔːr//

Origin: Latin; English

Meaning: Latin: commander; English: naval rank

Historical & Cultural Background

The name "Commodore" has its roots in the Latin word "commodus," meaning "convenient" or "suitable." This Latin term evolved into the Old French "commodore," which was used in the context of naval leadership. The term was adopted into English in the late 17th century, primarily to denote a naval officer of high rank, specifically one who commands multiple ships or a squadron.

The transition into English reflects the growing importance of naval power during this period, particularly in the context of colonial expansion and maritime trade. Historically, the title of commodore became significant in the navies of various countries, especially during the Age of Sail.

Notable figures such as Commodore Matthew Perry, who played a crucial role in opening Japan to the West in the mid-19th century, exemplify the prominence of this title in naval history. The term was also used in the British Royal Navy and the United States Navy, where it served as an honorary title before the rank of rear admiral was established.

The usage of "commodore" in these contexts solidified its association with leadership and authority on the seas. Culturally, the name "Commodore" carries connotations of leadership, adventure, and exploration, resonating with the maritime traditions of various cultures.

It evokes images of naval battles, exploration of uncharted territories, and the valor associated with commanding a fleet. The name has also been adopted in various contexts beyond the military, including in the naming of ships and even in popular culture, where it symbolizes strength and command.

While diminutive forms are not commonly associated with "Commodore," the name's historical significance and its connection to naval heritage have contributed to its enduring presence in the lexicon of maritime terminology.

Fictional characters named Commodore

The following list of fictional characters named Commodore is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Commodore Norrington is a fictional character from the film series Pirates of the Caribbean. He is a British naval officer who is often in pursuit of Captain Jack Sparrow and has a complicated relationship with Elizabeth Swann.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Commodore, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Commodore. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Commodore was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Commodore has ranked as high as #890 nationally, which occurred in 1923, and has been most popular in .

In the past 5 years the name Commodore has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Commodore is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Commodore was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Commodore

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

No state data available for this year.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Commodore.

YearBirths
19645
19616
19537
19495
19486
19475
19455
19448
19436
19416
19366
19357
19326
193110
193012
19297
19287
192710
192610
19259
192410
192320
192212
192113
192012
19197
191817
191712
191611
191511
19148
19137
19115
19085
19025
18989
18975
18925
18918
18905
18897
18866
18847
18835
18827
18806