Declining since 2012.
Popularity of General since 1880
Babies named General per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1918, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, General's real moment was 1885.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 290 |
| 1890s | 278 |
| 1900s | 229 |
| 1910s | 575 |
| 1920s | 698 |
| 1930s | 505 |
| 1940s | 473 |
| 1950s | 289 |
| 1960s | 181 |
| 1970s | 126 |
| 1980s | 72 |
| 1990s | 74 |
| 2000s | 77 |
| 2010s | 113 |
| 2020s | 45 |
Meaning & origin
General is an unusual given name drawn directly from the military rank, a practice that saw some popularity in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Its peak year was 1885, when the name appeared on the Social Security lists with enough frequency to register a modest presence. Since 2012, however, its trajectory has been falling, and the name has become exceedingly rare, with no rank recorded in recent years. Historically, it was given almost exclusively to boys, reflecting the masculine associations of the rank. The name did not have any strong concentration in particular states, and it never achieved widespread usage. As a naming choice, General is a clear example of a word name that has largely fallen out of favor, but it retains a certain boldness for those seeking an unconventional option rooted in American naming history.
General derives directly from the English military rank, itself from Latin generalis meaning 'pertaining to a class or kind.' As a given name, it gained modest use in the 19th century, likely inspired by military figures, but has since declined sharply. It was never common but saw its highest popularity in the 1880s.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Gen, Gene
Sibling names for General
Names that share General's style, for a brother or sister.
