Majour

Meaning & origin

A modern phonetic spelling of the established name Major, Majour first appeared in U.S. birth records in 2012 and has seen modest usage, primarily for boys. Its popularity peaked in 2023, but has been declining since 2022, with a rank of 6,446 in 2025 and a rarity of 1 in 131,390 newborns. The name has no recorded top states of usage, suggesting it is spread thinly across the country. Majour fits into a broader trend of respelled names that offer a familiar sound with a distinctive look, appealing to parents seeking a unique but recognizable choice. While the traditional spelling Major has centuries of history as a surname and given name, Majour is a contemporary American invention, reflecting the creativity of modern naming practices.

Majour is a contemporary respelling of the name Major, which itself comes from the Latin word 'maior' meaning 'greater'. Major has been used as a given name since the 19th century, often inspired by the military rank or as a surname. The variant spelling Majour emerged in the United States in the 2010s, following a trend of unique phonetic spellings.