Napoleon Boy

Popularity: #916 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: nuh-POH-lee-uhn /nəˈpoʊliən/

Origin: Italian; French

Meaning: Italian: 'lion of Naples'; French: 'from Naples'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Napoleon is derived from the Italian name Napoleone, which itself has roots in the Latin name Neapolitanus, meaning 'from Naples.' The etymology can be traced back further to the Greek word 'neapolis,' which translates to 'new city.' The name gained prominence in the early 19th century, particularly due to the historical figure Napoleon Bonaparte, who rose to prominence as a military leader and Emperor of the French, fundamentally shaping European history during the Napoleonic Wars (early 1800s). His influence led to the name becoming synonymous with leadership and ambition.

Historically, Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) was a pivotal figure in the transition from the French Revolution to the establishment of the French Empire. His military campaigns and administrative reforms left a lasting impact on France and Europe, leading to the spread of revolutionary ideals and the Napoleonic Code, which influenced legal systems worldwide.

The name Napoleon became widely recognized through literature and art, often symbolizing power and strategic genius. The name's historical significance was further cemented by its use in various cultural references, including works of literature and political discourse.

Culturally, the name Napoleon evokes a sense of grandeur and ambition, often associated with the complexities of leadership and the consequences of power. The name's resonance is reflected in its use in various contexts, from historical analysis to modern discussions about leadership and governance.

Additionally, the diminutive form 'Nap' has been used informally, though it is less common in formal contexts. Overall, the name Napoleon carries a rich historical and cultural legacy, rooted in its etymological origins and the significant events of the early 19th century.

Famous people named Napoleon

In this section, you will find notable people named Napoleon. 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 Napoleon who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Napoleon 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.

Napoleon Bonaparte is a military leader and emperor best known for the Napoleonic Wars, the establishment of the French Empire, and the Code Napoléon.

Fictional characters named Napoleon

The following list of fictional characters named Napoleon 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.

Napoleon Bonaparte is a fictional character from the novel War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. He is a prominent military leader whose actions significantly impact the course of the story during the Napoleonic Wars.

Napoleon is a fictional character from the animated film Animal Farm. He is a pig who becomes the tyrannical leader of the farm after the animals' rebellion against their human owner.

Sibling suggestions

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

AlexanderMaximilianJulianSebastianTheodoreVincent

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Napoleon. 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.

LeonardoAugustusAtticusLucianDorianCaspianJulioAlaric

U.S. Historical Usage

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

Napoleon has ranked as high as #1185 nationally, which occurred in 1926, and has been most popular in Alabama, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, and Mississippi.

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

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Napoleon 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 Napoleon 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 Napoleon.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 22 22 0
2024 12 12 0
2023 13 13 0
2022 10 10 0
2021 14 14 0
2020 12 12 0
2019 15 15 0
2018 26 26 0
2017 15 15 0
2016 13 13 0
2015 18 18 0
2014 17 17 0
2013 38 38 0
2012 19 19 0
2011 20 20 0
2010 23 23 0
2009 19 19 0
2008 24 24 0
2007 32 32 0
2006 28 28 0
2005 31 31 0
2004 30 30 0
2003 33 33 0
2002 29 29 0
2001 42 42 0
2000 44 44 0
1999 28 28 0
1998 40 40 0
1997 35 35 0
1996 32 32 0
1995 38 38 0
1994 37 37 0
1993 36 36 0
1992 46 46 0
1991 41 41 0
1990 55 55 0
1989 67 67 0
1988 49 49 0
1987 68 68 0
1986 50 50 0
1985 53 53 0
1984 46 46 0
1983 45 45 0
1982 47 47 0
1981 54 54 0
1980 53 53 0
1979 47 47 0
1978 42 42 0
1977 52 52 0
1976 39 39 0
1975 56 56 0
1974 49 49 0
1973 54 54 0
1972 70 70 0
1971 54 54 0
1970 62 62 0
1969 90 90 0
1968 75 75 0
1967 89 89 0
1966 97 97 0
1965 83 83 0
1964 69 69 0
1963 69 69 0
1962 72 72 0
1961 76 76 0
1960 75 75 0
1959 89 89 0
1958 88 88 0
1957 73 73 0
1956 78 78 0
1955 121 121 0
1954 101 101 0
1953 85 85 0
1952 98 98 0
1951 89 89 0
1950 77 77 0
1949 86 86 0
1948 79 79 0
1947 84 84 0
1946 60 60 0
1945 60 60 0
1944 64 64 0
1943 70 70 0
1942 81 81 0
1941 61 61 0
1940 58 58 0
1939 75 75 0
1938 73 73 0
1937 67 67 0
1936 73 73 0
1935 93 93 0
1934 79 79 0
1933 85 85 0
1932 99 99 0
1931 74 74 0
1930 80 80 0
1929 96 96 0
1928 76 76 0
1927 99 94 5
1926 122 122 0
1925 111 111 0
1924 116 116 0
1923 112 112 0
1922 96 96 0
1921 117 117 0
1920 96 96 0
1919 109 109 0
1918 109 109 0
1917 79 79 0
1916 98 98 0
1915 102 102 0
1914 78 78 0
1913 74 74 0
1912 56 56 0
1911 48 48 0
1910 44 44 0
1909 35 35 0
1908 35 35 0
1907 24 24 0
1906 14 14 0
1905 25 25 0
1904 11 11 0
1903 16 16 0
1902 23 23 0
1901 24 24 0
1900 32 32 0
1899 20 20 0
1898 19 19 0
1897 23 23 0
1896 22 22 0
1895 27 27 0
1894 22 22 0
1893 23 23 0
1892 22 22 0
1891 24 24 0
1890 25 25 0
1889 20 20 0
1888 22 22 0
1887 32 32 0
1886 32 32 0
1885 26 26 0
1884 28 28 0
1883 22 22 0
1882 29 29 0
1881 25 25 0
1880 31 31 0

Top States for Napoleon (2018)

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
CA 5
50%
TX 5
50%