Holding steady.
Popularity of Lieutenant since 1912
Babies named Lieutenant per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 36 |
| 1920s | 50 |
| 1930s | 27 |
| 1940s | 49 |
| 1950s | 24 |
| 1960s | 13 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Lieutenant is an extremely rare American given name derived directly from the military rank. It first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1912, its peak year in terms of earliest recorded use, but it has never approached any significant level of popularity. The name has remained stable in its obscurity, with no notable rank or per-capita frequency recorded in recent years. It is not associated with any particular state or region. As a word name, Lieutenant carries the connotations of authority and service. The total number of boys named Lieutenant over the past century is likely fewer than a hundred, making it one of the most uncommon word-name choices in the data.
Lieutenant comes from French lieu ('place') and tenant ('holding'), via Latin locum tenens. It entered English as a military rank in the 14th century. As a given name, it is extremely rare and was first recorded in the United States in 1912, probably used by families with a military connection rather than as a traditional personal name.
Sibling names for Lieutenant
Names that share Lieutenant's style, for a brother or sister.
