Given name & surname
Major
“the greater”
Major is used as a given name and a surname. One Latin interpretation is “the greater.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Latin interpretation is “the greater.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Latin.
How it developed
In English usage, Major as a surname developed from Meyer.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Major through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 21,749
- 21,673 boys · 76 girls
- Most popular year
- 2017
- 1,050 babies
- 2025
- 407
- #670 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −39%
- Cooling
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 407 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 670 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 39.2% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 1,042 in 2017. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (45). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 10,232 as a first name in 2020; 20,326 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Major’s family of names
In English usage, Major as a surname developed from the German form Meyer. Major has a related form in Majar. Major has a related form in Majer.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 8
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Major
- Major TaylorAmerican racing cyclist (1878-1932)
- Major OwensAmerican politician (1936-2013)
- Big Maceo MerriweatherAmerican Chicago blues pianist and singer (1905–1953)
- Major HarrisAmerican R&B singer (1947–2012)
- Major HolleyAmerican jazz upright bassist (1924–1990)
- Major BoothCricket player of England. (1886-1916)
- Major GreenwoodEnglish epidemiologist and statistician (1880-1949)
- Major WrightAmerican football player, defensive back, safetyborn 1988
- Major JonesAmerican basketball player (born 1953)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Major, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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98% boys · 2% girls
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Arjan
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“a man from Athens”
99% boys · 1% girls
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“source of life; small oak” · “axe”
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“a skilled bowman”
99% boys · 1% girls
Clark
“a cleric; a clerk”
98% boys · 2% girls