Major Boy

Popularity: #570 · 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.

MaxMasonMilesMiloMaverickMalcolm

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.

MajorcaMasonMalcolmMaverickMaddoxMariusMiloMiloš

U.S. Historical Usage

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

Major has ranked as high as #642 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.

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.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 407 407 0
2024 496 491 5
2023 584 579 5
2022 705 705 0
2021 764 759 5
2020 921 913 8
2019 954 948 6
2018 955 944 11
2017 1,050 1,042 8
2016 990 990 0
2015 913 913 0
2014 941 934 7
2013 859 854 5
2012 556 556 0
2011 197 197 0
2010 238 238 0
2009 182 182 0
2008 90 90 0
2007 94 94 0
2006 83 83 0
2005 74 74 0
2004 75 75 0
2003 63 63 0
2002 78 78 0
2001 74 74 0
2000 55 55 0
1999 33 33 0
1998 36 36 0
1997 39 39 0
1996 36 36 0
1995 43 43 0
1994 46 46 0
1993 56 56 0
1992 48 48 0
1991 51 51 0
1990 62 62 0
1989 73 73 0
1988 60 60 0
1987 44 44 0
1986 51 51 0
1985 39 39 0
1984 53 53 0
1983 47 47 0
1982 51 51 0
1981 69 69 0
1980 65 65 0
1979 58 58 0
1978 54 54 0
1977 50 50 0
1976 46 46 0
1975 50 50 0
1974 59 59 0
1973 59 59 0
1972 57 57 0
1971 67 67 0
1970 72 72 0
1969 69 69 0
1968 55 55 0
1967 68 68 0
1966 57 57 0
1965 79 79 0
1964 83 83 0
1963 77 77 0
1962 67 67 0
1961 66 66 0
1960 71 71 0
1959 105 105 0
1958 97 97 0
1957 100 100 0
1956 98 98 0
1955 103 103 0
1954 111 111 0
1953 116 116 0
1952 116 116 0
1951 134 134 0
1950 134 134 0
1949 110 110 0
1948 120 120 0
1947 121 121 0
1946 108 108 0
1945 121 121 0
1944 129 129 0
1943 126 126 0
1942 122 122 0
1941 92 92 0
1940 127 127 0
1939 108 103 5
1938 98 98 0
1937 99 93 6
1936 103 103 0
1935 89 89 0
1934 95 95 0
1933 107 107 0
1932 125 125 0
1931 95 95 0
1930 143 143 0
1929 122 122 0
1928 150 150 0
1927 145 145 0
1926 147 147 0
1925 116 116 0
1924 150 150 0
1923 129 124 5
1922 151 151 0
1921 162 162 0
1920 169 169 0
1919 183 183 0
1918 153 153 0
1917 159 159 0
1916 130 130 0
1915 151 151 0
1914 109 109 0
1913 98 98 0
1912 68 68 0
1911 50 50 0
1910 46 46 0
1909 51 51 0
1908 38 38 0
1907 30 30 0
1906 39 39 0
1905 44 44 0
1904 31 31 0
1903 36 36 0
1902 46 46 0
1901 22 22 0
1900 51 51 0
1899 42 42 0
1898 42 42 0
1897 39 39 0
1896 42 42 0
1895 34 34 0
1894 37 37 0
1893 41 41 0
1892 41 41 0
1891 34 34 0
1890 27 27 0
1889 44 44 0
1888 37 37 0
1887 40 40 0
1886 31 31 0
1885 37 37 0
1884 36 36 0
1883 41 41 0
1882 44 44 0
1881 40 40 0
1880 28 28 0

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. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 52
12%
GA 48
11%
FL 42
9%
NC 34
8%
AL 22
5%
OH 20
4%
CA 20
4%
MS 19
4%
IL 18
4%
SC 17
4%
MI 16
4%
MO 15
3%
TN 13
3%
NY 13
3%
MD 12
3%
IN 12
3%
LA 12
3%
VA 11
2%
PA 10
2%
OK 9
2%
WI 9
2%
NJ 6
1%
DC 6
1%
MN 6
1%
NV 5
1%