Major Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Major is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Major?
Major is spelled M-A-J-O-R. The name has 5 letters.
Major at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Derived from the Latin word “major” meaning “greater” or “larger.”
- Origin
- The name Major is commonly associated with the Latin adjective “major”, which means “greater” or “larger.”
- Pronunciation
- MAY-jer · 2 syllables
Major Popularity in 2025
Rank#669
Recorded Births407
- Boys usage fell 89 places to #669 and recorded 84 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Major Mean?
Derived from the Latin word “major” meaning “greater” or “larger.”
Origin: The name Major is commonly associated with the Latin adjective “major”, which means “greater” or “larger.”
How Do You Pronounce Major?
PronunciationMAY-jer
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Major?
- History
- Major has been used as a surname and less commonly as a given name, often linked to the military rank of the same spelling.
Major Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2011 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 407 | #669 |
| 2024 | Girls | 5 | #15,293 |
| 2024 | Boys | 491 | #580 |
| 2023 | Girls | 5 | #15,194 |
| 2023 | Boys | 579 | #514 |
| 2022 | Boys | 705 | #441 |
| 2021 | Girls | 5 | #15,251 |
| 2021 | Boys | 759 | #411 |
| 2020 | Girls | 8 | #11,090 |
| 2020 | Boys | 913 | #349 |
| 2019 | Girls | 6 | #13,799 |
| 2019 | Boys | 948 | #350 |
| 2018 | Girls | 11 | #9,151 |
| 2018 | Boys | 944 | #349 |
| 2017 | Girls | 8 | #11,615 |
| 2017 | Boys | 1,042 | #329 |
| 2016 | Boys | 990 | #348 |
| 2015 | Boys | 913 | #361 |
| 2014 | Girls | 7 | #13,069 |
| 2014 | Boys | 934 | #350 |
| 2013 | Girls | 5 | #16,547 |
| 2013 | Boys | 854 | #366 |
| 2012 | Boys | 556 | #486 |
| 2011 | Boys | 197 | #990 |
When Was Major Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2017 · Boys
1,042 recorded births
National rank #329
2016 · Boys
990 recorded births
National rank #348
2019 · Boys
948 recorded births
National rank #350
2018 · Boys
944 recorded births
National rank #349
Where Major Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MS | #189 | 16 |
| AL | #301 | 18 |
| SC | #311 | 17 |
| KS | #352 | 10 |
| GA | #357 | 33 |
| MO | #419 | 15 |
| TN | #477 | 16 |
| NC | #485 | 21 |