Major Boy

Popularity: #501 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: MAY-jer //ˈmeɪdʒər//

Origin: Latin; English

Meaning: Latin: greater; English: military rank

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Major has its roots in the Latin word "maior," which means "greater" or "larger." This term evolved through various linguistic stages, including Old French, where it became "maior" before entering Middle English as "maior" or "major." The transition into English was influenced by the use of the term in military and academic contexts, where it denotes rank or importance, thus embedding it within the language as a descriptor of significance. Historically, the name Major has been associated with various notable figures and contexts.

In the military, the rank of major has been a significant position since at least the Middle Ages, and it has been used in various armies around the world. The term also appears in ecclesiastical contexts, referring to a priest of higher rank.

In literature, the name has been used symbolically to denote authority and leadership, further solidifying its cultural significance. Culturally, Major carries connotations of strength and prominence, often associated with leadership roles.

The name has been used in various artistic and literary works, where characters named Major often embody traits of authority and responsibility. Additionally, the name has a diminutive form, "Maj," which has been used informally in some contexts, though it is less common.

Overall, the name Major reflects a historical legacy of importance and distinction, resonating through various spheres of life.

Famous people named Major

In this section, you will find notable people named Major. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Major who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Major who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Major Lazer is a music project best known for Lean On, Cold Water, and Light It Up.

Major Harris is a singer best known for Love Won't Let Me Wait, All I Ever Wanted, and I Got Over Love.

Major League is a sports comedy film best known for Major League, Major League II, and Major League: Back to the Minors.

Fictional characters named Major

The following list of fictional characters named Major 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.

Major Motoko Kusanagi is a fictional character from the anime and manga series Ghost in the Shell. She is a cyborg officer in the Public Security Section 9, known for her expertise in cyber warfare and investigations.

Major General Frank Burns is a fictional character from the film and TV series M*A*S*H. He is a surgeon and a member of the U.S. Army who often serves as a foil to the more laid-back characters in the series.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Major, 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 Major. 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 Major was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Major has ranked as high as #591 nationally, which occurred in 2017, and has been most popular in Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, and Alabama.

In the past 5 years the name Major has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Major 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 Major was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Major (2024)

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.

State Births Share
TX 52
12%
GA 48
11%
FL 42
10%
NC 34
8%
AL 22
5%
OH 20
5%
CA 20
5%
MS 19
4%
IL 18
4%
SC 17
4%
MI 16
4%
MO 15
3%
NY 13
3%
TN 13
3%
IN 12
3%

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 Major.

YearBirths
2024490
2023578
2022703
2021757
2020911
2019948
2018944
20171,042
2016988
2015912
2014934
2013854
2012556
2011197
2010238
2009182
200890
200794
200683
200574
200475
200363
200278
200174
200055
199933
199836
199739
199636
199543
199446
199356
199248
199151
199062
198973
198860
198744
198651
198539
198453
198347
198251
198169
198065
197958
197854
197750
197646
197550
197459
197359
197257
197167
197072
196969
196855
196768
196657
196579
196483
196377
196267
196166
196071
1959105
195897
1957100
195698
1955103
1954111
1953116
1952116
1951134
1950134
1949110
1948120
1947121
1946108
1945121
1944129
1943126
1942122
194192
1940127
1939103
193898
193793
1936103
193589
193495
1933107
1932125
193195
1930143
1929122
1928150
1927145
1926147
1925116
1924150
1923124
1922151
1921162
1920169
1919183
1918153
1917159
1916130
1915151
1914109
191398
191268
191150
191046
190951
190838
190730
190639
190544
190431
190336
190246
190122
190051
189942
189842
189739
189642
189534
189437
189341
189241
189134
189027
188944
188837
188740
188631
188537
188436
188341
188244
188140
188028